Grit keynotes for Newcastle and the North East
Newcastle hosts the Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon. Paris, who ran 7 marathons on 7 continents, brings The Grit Code to the city.
A running city
The Great North Run starts in Newcastle and finishes in South Shields, and is the largest half marathon in the world.
The Tyne bridges, the quayside and two universities define a city with a strong events scene.
Paris ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, so long-distance running is central to his story.
Who Paris speaks to in Newcastle
Running and sport
Endurance stories for clubs and charities.
Conferences
Opening keynotes.
Universities
Talks for students.
Public bodies
Sessions for leaders.
Where Newcastle meets
Newcastle’s arena and quayside venues host conferences and events.
- Utilita Arena Newcastle – in the city centre
- Quayside venues – along the Tyne
Keynote, workshop or virtual
Options: keynote, 45 to 60 minutes · workshop, 90 minutes up to half a day · virtual session, 30 to 45 minutes · host or MC for your event. Compare formats →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
See the keynote overview. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Leeds
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Newcastle, 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 Newcastle 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.
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 Newcastle 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 Newcastle
Organisers in Newcastle 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
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- 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.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Newcastle?
Yes. Paris takes Newcastle bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak to running clubs and charities?
Yes. His marathon challenge makes the talk a fit for running audiences.
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.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Newcastle?
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 Newcastle?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact