Grit keynotes for Southampton’s maritime and ocean sector
Southampton is one of the UK’s great ports and home to the National Oceanography Centre. Paris brings his Pacific row and The Grit Code to the city.
A city of the sea
The Titanic sailed from Southampton in 1912, and the port is still one of the busiest in the UK.
The National Oceanography Centre and the University of Southampton make it a centre of ocean science.
In 2023 Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Who Paris speaks to in Southampton
Shipping and ports
Talks for maritime teams.
Ocean science
Keynotes for researchers.
Universities
Sessions for students.
Conferences
Opening keynotes.
Rooms and stages
Waterfront and university venues host Southampton’s conferences.
- Southampton waterfront venues – around Ocean Village
- University venues – at Highfield
Pick the format
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.
Watch the Pacific row film. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker London
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Southampton, 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.
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 Southampton 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.
Southampton’s economy and who the talk is for
Southampton has a population of about 271,173 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Southampton’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Southampton Solent University. Paris’s talks for students and graduates focus on grit as a skill that can be learned, using his own expeditions as evidence.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
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 Southampton 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 Southampton
These are typical Southampton events for The Grit Code:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- 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.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Southampton?
Yes. He is available for Southampton conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Does Paris speak at ocean-science events?
Yes. His row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
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.
Does Paris speak at universities in Southampton?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Southampton Solent University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Southampton?
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 Southampton?
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.
Planning an event in Southampton?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.