Resilience keynotes for Belfast conferences and teams
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was built. Paris, who presented Adventures in Ireland, brings The Grit Code to the city.
Shipbuilding to software
RMS Titanic was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast; Titanic Belfast now tells the story.
The city has grown strong tech, cyber-security and film sectors.
Paris presented Adventures in Ireland, a TV series exploring the island of Ireland.
Who Paris speaks to in Belfast
Tech and cyber
Keynotes for engineering teams.
Maritime
Talks rooted in an ocean story.
Public bodies
Sessions for public-service leaders.
Film and media
Talks for production teams.
Rooms and stages
ICC Belfast and Titanic Belfast host conferences and gala events.
- ICC Belfast – on the River Lagan
- Titanic Belfast – in the Titanic Quarter
Pick the format
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
Watch Paris’s Adventures in Ireland series. Adventures in Ireland · Keynote speaker Dublin
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Belfast, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
A British speaker with real UK roots
Paris Norriss is British-born and British-educated. He was born in Bath, which he calls his home town, and grew up in Somerset, where he went to Millfield School and was captain of the Somerset County Athletics Association.
He went on to the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA (Hons) in Business Studies, and worked in the City of London for a short time before his career took a very different turn into adventure and television.
Since then he has rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates (2023), run seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and become CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, whose adventure TV shows are distributed in 123 countries. He is also an active member of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai.
In London he delivered The Grit Code for Durlston Partners. For Belfast organisers, that means a British speaker who knows UK audiences, UK humour and UK business culture, with the stories to back up every point.
Paris gave my team a gripping talk on grit in London this Summer, filled with his real life stories and passion for adventure.
Belfast’s economy and who the talk is for
Belfast has a population of about 345,006 (2021 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Belfast’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Queen's University Belfast and Queen's University of Ireland. Paris’s talks for students and graduates focus on grit as a skill that can be learned, using his own expeditions as evidence.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
How a Grit Code session works
- Paris starts with a short briefing call to understand the room, the sector and the challenge in front of it.
- The keynote uses film from his expeditions and TV work to make each idea concrete.
- Many organisers pair it with a Grit Deconstruction workshop or ask Paris to host the full day.
The content is shaped around Belfast organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Belfast
Organisers in Belfast usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
Guy in the Sky Ireland in Belfast
Paris has not given a keynote in Belfast, but he has filmed there. Part of his Ireland series, Guy in the Sky Ireland, was shot in Northern Ireland and includes the Dark Hedges and Titanic Belfast.
That local filming gives Belfast organisers a speaker who already knows the city’s landmarks on camera, while still presenting as a British local on UK stages. The Grit Code keynote itself draws on his wider expeditions, including the 7 marathons on 7 continents and the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Belfast?
Yes. He is available for Belfast conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Has Paris filmed in Ireland?
Yes. He filmed part of Guy in the Sky Ireland in Belfast, including the Dark Hedges and Titanic Belfast. He has not given a keynote talk in Belfast.
Is Paris Norriss British?
Yes. He was born in Bath, grew up in Somerset, went to Millfield School and graduated from the University of Edinburgh.
Has Paris spoken for UK companies?
Yes. He delivered The Grit Code for Durlston Partners in London.
Does Paris speak at universities in Belfast?
Yes. He is available for student, graduate and faculty events in Belfast. His confirmed university talks elsewhere include the University of Wollongong in Dubai, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Queen’s University in Ontario and Caucasus University in Tbilisi.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Belfast?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Belfast?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Planning an event in Belfast?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.