Grit keynotes for the pilgrim city
Canterbury has drawn pilgrims for more than 800 years and now hosts nearly 40,000 students. Paris brings The Grit Code to its universities and businesses.
A city of journeys
Canterbury Cathedral was founded in 597 and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It receives about a million visitors a year.
After Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral in 1170, pilgrims came from across Europe; that pilgrimage framed Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
The University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University arrived in the 1960s; by 2015 the student population was almost 40,000. The economy relies on tourism, higher education and retail.
Who Paris speaks to in Canterbury
Universities
Keynotes for students and staff.
Heritage and visitors
Resilience for visitor-facing teams.
NHS and care
Talks for frontline staff.
Kent firms
Sessions for growing businesses.
Event venues
The Cathedral Lodge, the Marlowe Theatre and the university campuses host Canterbury’s events.
- Canterbury Cathedral Lodge – a hotel and conference centre in the cathedral precincts
- Marlowe Theatre – named after Christopher Marlowe, who was born in the city
- University campuses – conference facilities at Kent and Christ Church
Ways to book Paris in Canterbury
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 →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read The Grit Code. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker London · Keynote speaker Brighton
Booking for Canterbury
Available for in-person events in Canterbury, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Canterbury’s economy and who the talk is for
Canterbury has a population of about 54,880 (2011 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Canterbury 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 Canterbury
Organisers in Canterbury usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
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.
Questions from Canterbury organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Canterbury?
Yes. Organisers in Canterbury can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can Paris speak at a university event in Canterbury?
Yes. He speaks to students and staff and can join graduation or welcome events.
Does Paris speak to tourism businesses?
Yes. His TV shows explore destinations, so he understands visitor experience.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Canterbury?
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 Canterbury?
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.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Check a date for Canterbury
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.