Keynotes for Newport and ICC Wales
Newport hosted the Ryder Cup and a NATO summit, and now has Wales’s international convention centre. Paris brings The Grit Code to its conferences.
From Chartists to chips
In 1839 John Frost led some 3,000 Chartists in a march on the Westgate Hotel, one of the defining moments of the town’s history. The Transporter Bridge over the Usk opened in 1906.
Newport became a city in 2002. Its place in the M4 corridor has brought aerospace and semiconductor industries, and the Office for National Statistics and the UK Intellectual Property Office have their headquarters here.
The Celtic Manor Resort hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010 and the NATO summit in 2014.
Who Paris speaks to in Newport
Semiconductors
Keynotes for engineering teams.
Government agencies
Resilience for national services.
Conferences at ICC Wales
Opening or closing keynotes.
Golf, rugby and football
Endurance stories for clubs.
Where Newport meets
ICC Wales and the Celtic Manor Resort are Newport’s main venues for national and international conferences.
- ICC Wales – a 5,000-capacity convention centre with a 1,500-seat auditorium, opened in 2019
- Celtic Manor Resort – host of the 2010 Ryder Cup
- Rodney Parade – home of the Dragons and Newport County
Keynote, workshop or virtual
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 →
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 Paris’s past speaking events. Past speaking events · Keynote speaker Cardiff · Keynote speaker Bristol
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Newport, 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.
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 Newport 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 Newport
Organisers in Newport 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
- Past speaking 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.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
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.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Newport?
Yes. Paris takes Newport bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Can Paris keynote a conference at ICC Wales?
Yes. He speaks to large conference audiences, in person or virtually.
Does Paris speak to government and public-sector teams?
Yes. He tailors the talk to change, pressure and long programmes.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Newport?
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 Newport?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact