Grit for the city of Discovery
Dundee built Scott’s Antarctic ship, gave the world the Beano and became the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design. Paris brings The Grit Code to its studios and campuses.
Jute, jam, journalism and games
Dundee was the centre of the world’s jute industry in the 19th century, which with marmalade and publishing earned it the tag “jute, jam and journalism”. DC Thomson, founded here in 1905, still publishes The Beano.
RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic exploration ship, was built in Dundee and is on display at Discovery Point, near the V&A Dundee, the museum’s first branch outside London, which opened in 2018 in a building by Kengo Kuma.
Video game development has been an important industry for more than 20 years, and UNESCO named Dundee the UK’s first City of Design in 2014.
Who Paris speaks to in Dundee
Studios and developers
Keynotes on shipping under pressure and starting again.
University and research teams
Persistence for long research projects.
NHS Tayside
Resilience for clinical teams.
Publishing and design
Storytelling sessions for creative teams.
Event venues
Caird Hall, the waterfront venues and the university campuses host Dundee’s conferences, graduations and dinners.
- Caird Hall – a Category A listed concert hall in City Square, opened in 1923
- V&A Dundee – the design museum on the River Tay
- Discovery Point – where Scott’s ship is on display
Ways to book Paris in Dundee
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.
Scott’s Antarctic ship was built here; Paris ran the first of his 7 marathons in Antarctica. He also studied at Edinburgh University. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Edinburgh · Keynote speaker Aberdeen
Booking for Dundee
Available for in-person events in Dundee, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Dundee’s economy and who the talk is for
Dundee has a population of about 148,280 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Dundee 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 Dundee
These are typical Dundee events for The Grit Code:
- 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
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
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 Dundee organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Dundee?
Yes. Organisers in Dundee can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to games studios and tech teams?
Yes. He talks about setbacks, iteration and keeping a team going through a long project.
Is there an Antarctic angle for a Dundee audience?
Yes. Paris’s first of 7 marathons was in Antarctica, and the keynote draws on it.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Dundee?
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 Dundee?
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 Dundee
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.