Neil Weeks, the inaugural CEO of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation and former CEO of TIO, has died after a long battle with cancer.

He worked in the insurance industry for more than 30 years, including with Australian Eagle Insurance, and joined the reinsurance pool in 2003, retiring in 2010.

Divico Scheidegger, the founder of industry IT services company 3rdmill, died suddenly in January in what his family has described as “a tragic accident”. He was 52.

Brazilian-born Mr Scheidegger arrived in Australia in 1988 and 10 years later set up 3rdmill, which grew to become a major supplier of IT services for the insurance industry.

While he originally had no intention of specialising in the insurance industry, his business was promoted by his first client, broker John Clark, and his client list was dominated by brokers and insurers.

Mr Scheidegger is survived by his wife Tania and daughter Natalia.

Gordon Taylor, who forged an enviable reputation in insurance education, died in December after a long illness. He was 64.  

His professional insurance career was followed by more than 21 years as a consultant and technical trainer. He was the author and lecturer of accredited insurance courses in Australia and other countries, as was also an accredited assessor for the National Insurance Brokers Association.

His most recent work was as a co-founder of the independent College of Professional Education. He is survived by his wife Patricia, two daughters and a grand-daughter.