Resilience keynotes for Wearside makers
Sunderland once built a quarter of the world’s ships and now builds cars. Paris brings The Grit Code to its factories, campus and businesses.
Shipyards to car plants
At its peak Sunderland was described as the largest shipbuilding town in the world. Shipbuilding ended in 1988.
Nissan opened its plant at Washington, in the city, in 1986; it became the UK’s largest car factory. Sunderland was granted city status in 1992.
The University of Sunderland’s St Peter’s campus and the National Glass Centre were built on former shipyard land by the Wear. For a city that knows the sea, Paris’s 4,800 km Pacific row is a natural story.
Who Paris speaks to in Sunderland
Car manufacturing
Keynotes for production and supplier teams.
University of Sunderland
Talks for students and graduates.
Sport and stadium staff
Endurance stories for clubs.
Councils and NHS
Resilience for frontline teams.
Event venues
The Stadium of Light’s suites and the riverside venues host Sunderland’s conferences and dinners.
- Stadium of Light – a 49,000-seat stadium with conference and banqueting suites
- National Glass Centre – on the riverside at St Peter’s
Ways to book Paris in Sunderland
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 →
Endurance you can measure
A marathon on every continent
7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Miami via Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza.
4,800 km of open ocean
The 2023 Pacific row, which raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Watch the film of Paris’s Pacific row. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Newcastle · The Grit Code keynote
Booking for Sunderland
Available for in-person events in Sunderland, 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.
Sunderland’s economy and who the talk is for
Sunderland has a population of about 277,417 (2018 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Sunderland’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as University of Sunderland. 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
- 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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland
In Sunderland, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- 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
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- 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.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
Questions from Sunderland organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Sunderland?
Yes. Organisers in Sunderland can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to automotive manufacturing teams?
Yes. He covers routine, discipline and recovering when the plan goes wrong.
Can Paris speak at a stadium conference?
Yes. He has spoken in venues of all sizes, from boardrooms to large halls.
Does Paris speak at universities in Sunderland?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as University of Sunderland, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Sunderland?
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 Sunderland?
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 Sunderland
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.