Resilience keynotes for Riffa’s teams and schools
Riffa, in Bahrain’s Southern Governorate, is the country’s second-largest city by area. Paris brings The Grit Code to its sports, school and business audiences.
East, West and North Riffa
Riffa was once the main settlement on Bahrain Island, before Manama overtook it in the 19th century. It is split into East, West and North Riffa.
Riffa Fort, rebuilt in 1812 on a cliff above the valley between East and West Riffa, was the birthplace of Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, who ruled from 1869 to 1932.
East Riffa is home to Bahrain National Stadium and the Royal Golf Club. Paris has spent 17 years in the Gulf making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East.
Who Paris speaks to in Riffa
Football and golf
Endurance stories for clubs and athletes.
Schools
Talks for students and teachers.
Regional businesses
Keynotes for annual meetings.
Public sector
Resilience for public-service teams.
Event venues
The golf club and Riffa’s hotels host dinners and meetings; bigger conferences often go to Manama or Sakhir.
- Royal Golf Club – clubhouse event space in Riffa
- Bahrain National Stadium – the national football stadium in East Riffa
Ways to book Paris in Riffa
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 →
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 about The Grit Code, or see Paris’s page for Manama. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Manama
Booking for Riffa
Available for in-person events in Riffa, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers in the Middle East typically book speakers one to two months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
The keynote is delivered in English, and Arabic interpretation or translated slides are available on request through the organiser.
See also keynote speaker in Bahrain, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Riffa’s economy and who the talk is for
Riffa has a population of about 115,495 (2012 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Riffa’s universities, including Royal University for Women and Kingdom 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 →
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 Riffa 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 Riffa
Organisers in Riffa 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.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- 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.
Questions from Riffa organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Riffa?
Yes. Organisers in Riffa can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can Paris speak at a school in Riffa?
Yes. The Grit Generation is his programme for students.
Does the talk suit a sports-club dinner?
Yes. Stories from seven marathons on seven continents work well for sporting audiences.
Does Paris speak at universities in Riffa?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Royal University for Women and Kingdom University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Riffa?
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 Riffa?
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 Riffa
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.