An adventurer keynote with real footage
Paris Norriss is an adventurer, explorer and adventure TV presenter. He rowed the Pacific in 2023 with three teammates, ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and his adventure TV shows are distributed in 123 countries. His keynote brings the footage on stage and turns it into lessons in grit for business audiences.
Stories audiences can see
Rowed the Pacific
In 2023, with three teammates.
7 marathons on 7 continents
In 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Adventure TV
Shows distributed in 123 countries; Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
TEDx Amman, COP28, Expo 2020
Clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, Dubai Airports, IHG and UN Tourism.
Who books an adventure speaker
Opening or closing keynotes
A high-energy story with real footage.
Sales kick-offs
Big goals, set with proof they can be hit.
Leadership teams
Grit and teamwork under pressure.
Award and incentive events
A story to match a celebration.
Choose the format
Keynote
The full keynote, live on stage, including Q&A.
Workshop
A hands-on session for leadership and sales teams.
Virtual keynote
The same message, delivered online.
From the organisers
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Paris Norriss in action as a storyteller, motivator and a true catalyst for transformation. Through his powerful awe-inspiring adventures, he doesn’t just recount tales of endurance and grit, he lives them.
Paris is both captivating and uplifting. We appreciated his open, honest, and heartfelt journey. His raw and genuine account of his pioneering adventure underlines his resilience and grit against any obstacle he faced. His story is highly impactful and we found it inspiring to deliver more passion, energy and a collaborative spirit.
I had the pleasure of working with Paris during TEDxAmman, the largest TEDx event in the MENA region, where he joined us as one of our inspiring speakers. From the very start, he showed professionalism, positivity, and contagious enthusiasm that uplifted everyone around him.
What Paris has done
- The Pacific row. In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- 7 marathons, 7 continents. He ran 7 marathons in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
- Adventure TV. He created and hosted Guy in Dubai, which has 22 million views, and his shows have been distributed in 123 countries.
- Documentary. 39 Days to Paradise is his full-feature documentary, released in 2026.
Stories that stick
Adventure stories are memorable because audiences can picture them: a small boat in a big ocean, a marathon start line on ice. Paris uses that attention to teach practical ideas about grit, teamwork and decision-making under pressure, so the lessons last long after the event.
Because he is also CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, he links every story back to business: managing risk, leading tired teams and staying focused through long projects.
Events that suit an adventure keynote
Company conferences, sales kick-offs, award nights, charity galas and tourism events. Past clients include Nokia, DHL, IHG, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
A life of exploring
Paris’s adventures did not start with record attempts. He grew up on the grounds of Longleat in Wiltshire and found his love of adventure in Oman, where he lived from 2009 to 2012, spending weekends in the wadis and mountains. He has since spent 17 years working, filming and exploring across the Gulf, from desert and mountain trips to wreck dives such as the MV Dara.
That breadth gives the keynote range. Paris can lean on ocean, endurance, mountain or diving stories depending on the theme of your event, and he shapes each version around the message the organiser wants the audience to remember.
K2 base camp, Baltoro Glacier
In 2024 Paris completed a 14-day trek up the Baltoro Glacier to K2 base camp in Northern Pakistan, to support his good friend Maria Conceição, who reached the summit of K2. He filmed the expedition in Pakistan.
That story sits alongside the Pacific row and the 7 marathons on 7 continents when organisers want a mountain and friendship angle in the adventure keynote.
Common questions
What formats are available?
A 45 to 60 minute keynote including Q&A, a 90 minute to half-day workshop, or a 30 to 45 minute virtual keynote.
Does Paris speak outside the UAE?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, live or virtually.
Does the keynote include video?
Yes. Paris uses footage from his expeditions and adventure TV shows on stage.
What adventures does Paris talk about?
Mainly the 2023 Pacific row, the 7 marathons on 7 continents, the 2024 Baltoro Glacier trek to K2 base camp with his good friend Maria Conceição, and his adventure TV shows including Guy in Dubai.
Does the talk include video?
Yes. Paris uses footage from his expeditions and TV shows to bring the stories to life.
Is the adventure keynote relevant to business audiences?
Yes. Each story is tied to a practical business lesson about grit, teamwork and pressure.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
Book an adventure keynote
Tell us the date, the audience and what you want them to walk out with. See the full Grit Code keynote.