Inspirational business leader Gary Shaughnessy gave QE’s younger boys a heartfelt message born out of his own experience of dealing with adversity.
Mr Shaughnessy was an international CEO of Zurich Insurance and at the peak of his career when, in 2015, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
In a special Lower School assembly lecture, he spoke of how he overcame his initial despair and, with the help of his wife, used the news as a springboard into what became the happiest period of his life. He is now a philanthropist, an advocate for several charities and a fundraising athlete.
Thanking Mr Shaughnessy, QE Flourish coordinator Lev Crofts reflected afterwards on the talk: “He chose to accelerate his career rather than ‘stow’ it; to become involved in athletics, sports challenges and break multiple world records; and to become more involved in charity work – eventually becoming the chair of Parkinson’s UK. Ultimately, his message was about responding positively to difficulty, of seeing failure as opportunity, and to be appreciative of how much we are given by life.”
His entertaining lecture to Years 7–9 in the Shearly Hall included Mr Shaughnessy leading the boys in his regular chant of ‘Live life, love life, stop Parkinson’s’.
Mr Shaughnessy began his career in the UK financial services sector, holding key roles at the Automobile Association, the Bank of Scotland, and AXA, before joining Zurich in 2012 and rising to become its CEO for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. In that role, he managed approximately 20,000 employees across 22 countries, driving major cultural and digital transformations.
He initially kept his diagnosis private, but came to recognise that openness could be both empowering and liberating, helping to challenge stigma in the workplace. By publicly sharing his condition, he became a visible example of strength and transparency for others living with chronic illness.
His philosophy – “focus on what you can do, not what you can’t” – reflects his belief in resilience, adaptation, and positive action.
Since his diagnosis he has completed numerous endurance events, including marathons, cycling challenges, triathlons and a 30 sports in 30 days feat – all to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. He even set Guinness World Records for the longest three-legged distances covered in 12 and 24 hours.
In the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to business, his charitable leadership, and his work supporting people with Parkinson’s.
Mr Shaughnessy is Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation, which was established to help vulnerable people, and Chair of England Athletics.
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Dubai Sports City is a complex built around five major sports venues that provides a mix of residential, retail, leisure and recreational facilities. Teaching at the new school will follow England’s National Curriculum. 
“The Dubai branch campus will remain faithful to the mission, ethos, tradition, and exacting academic standards of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, while embracing Dubai’s spirit of innovation and ambition,” Ms Pendleton-Nash added. “Our mission is to nurture confident, able, and responsible young people who are prepared to lead happy and fulfilled adult lives and to make a positive contribution to others. In uniting the heritage of one of the UK’s most distinguished schools with the vision of Dubai, we aspire to set a new global benchmark for educational excellence.”
