Keynotes for the home of the Canton Fair
Guangzhou has traded with the world for more than 2,000 years and hosts China’s oldest and largest trade fair. Paris brings The Grit Code to its teams.
2,200 years of trade
Guangzhou has a history of more than 2,200 years and was a major end point of the Silk Road. For a long time it was the only Chinese port open to Europeans.
The Canton Fair, held every April and October since 1957, is the oldest and largest trade fair in China. It moved to the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pazhou.
The city is the main manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta. The 600-metre Canton Tower opened for the 2010 Asian Games.
Who Paris speaks to in Guangzhou
Exporters and buyers
Keynotes for trade-fair audiences.
Pearl River Delta factories
Resilience for production teams.
South China offices
Leadership meetings.
International schools
The Grit Generation for students.
Event venues
Exhibitions are centred on the Pazhou complex; corporate meetings and dinners tend to use Tianhe’s hotels.
- Canton Fair Complex – the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pazhou
- Canton Tower – the 600-metre landmark in Haizhu
- Tianhe hotels – for corporate meetings
Ways to book Paris in Guangzhou
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.
See the Shenzhen and Hong Kong pages, or read The Grit Code. Keynote speaker Shenzhen · Keynote speaker Hong Kong · The Grit Code keynote
Booking for Guangzhou
Available for in-person events in Guangzhou, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
Paris presents in English. Organisers can arrange an interpreter if the audience would benefit.
See also keynote speaker in China, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Guangzhou’s economy and who the talk is for
Guangzhou has a population of about 18,676,605 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Companies headquartered in Guangzhou include XPeng (automotive industry), GAC Group (automotive industry), MINISO (retail), EHang (aerospace engineering), Poly Developments (real estate development) and CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering Company (shipbuilding).
Automotive (XPeng and GAC Group). Automotive teams balance engineering precision with commercial pressure. Paris was a brand ambassador for Land Rover Middle East, and the keynote shows how grit turns long development cycles and tough sales targets into steady progress.
Retail and consumer goods (MINISO). Consumer-goods and retail teams face constant targets. The Grit Code gives them practical tools for motivation that lasts beyond the conference day.
Aviation, transport and logistics (EHang). Aviation, transport and logistics teams work around the clock and against the clock. Paris has spoken for DHL and Dubai Airports, and his record-breaking marathon challenge, run to a tight timetable across seven continents, is a natural fit for operations audiences.
Students, graduates and faculty
Guangzhou’s universities, including Jinan University, South China Normal University and Guangzhou University, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
Other large venues in Guangzhou
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Guangzhou venues include Baoneng Guangzhou Arena and Guangzhou Gymnasium.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
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 Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou
Organisers in Guangzhou usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- 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.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Questions from Guangzhou organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Guangzhou?
Yes. Organisers in Guangzhou can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can Paris speak at an event during the Canton Fair?
Yes. He can speak at side events, receptions and client dinners, subject to the organiser’s plans.
Does Paris speak to manufacturing teams?
Yes. He talks about pace, fatigue and keeping standards high under pressure.
Which Guangzhou industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Guangzhou it suits automotive, retail and consumer goods and aviation, transport and logistics audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Guangzhou?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Jinan University and South China Normal University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Guangzhou?
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 Guangzhou?
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.
Check a date for Guangzhou
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.