Resilience keynotes for Sydney conferences and leadership teams
Australia’s financial capital is also an ocean city. Paris brings stories from the Pacific and the start line to Sydney teams who need to keep performing under pressure.
Finance, the harbour and the Pacific
Sydney is Australia’s largest financial centre, home to the Australian Securities Exchange and the headquarters of the Commonwealth Bank and Westpac.
Paris’s Pacific row covered 4,800 km of the same ocean that shapes Sydney life, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation. That combination of endurance and purpose connects with Australian audiences who value straight talking and real stories over hype.
For banking, insurance and professional-services teams facing regulatory change and tight targets, The Grit Code offers a practical framework for staying the course.
Who Paris speaks to in Sydney
Banking and insurance
Conferences and offsites for financial-services teams.
Sales kick-offs
A strong start to the financial year for national sales teams.
Leadership offsites
Tools for leading through change and uncertainty.
Conferences
Main-stage keynotes at Sydney’s convention venues.
Where Sydney meets
ICC Sydney hosts major international and domestic conferences throughout the year.
- ICC Sydney – the International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour
- Harbourside hotels and venues – around Circular Quay, Barangaroo and the CBD
Ways to book Paris in Sydney
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.
The Pacific row film, 39 days at sea, shows the crossing that sits at the heart of The Grit Code. Watch: 39 days at sea · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Sydney, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Sydney, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in Australia, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Sydney’s economy and who the talk is for
Sydney has a population of about 5,450,496 (2023 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Sydney is the head-office city for organisations such as Australian Broadcasting Corporation (broadcasting), Commonwealth Bank (economics of banking), Australian Securities Exchange (financial services), Atlassian (software industry), Australian Associated Press (news agency) and Woolworths Group (retail).
Banking and financial services (Commonwealth Bank, Australian Securities Exchange and QBE Insurance). Financial services teams often ask for a keynote that respects their intelligence. The Grit Code uses real numbers (5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes for 7 marathons; 4,800 km rowed) to show how high performers manage risk, fatigue and decision-making under pressure.
Telecoms (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Telecoms businesses run networks that can never stop. Paris has spoken for Nokia, and his message on steady, disciplined effort under pressure suits network, sales and customer teams alike.
Technology and software (Atlassian). Technology teams ship, fail, learn and ship again. Paris connects that loop to life on an ocean rowing boat, where a broken plan is normal and the crew that adapts fastest wins. It suits engineering all-hands, product kick-offs and AI transformation programmes.
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 Sydney 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 Sydney
Organisers in Sydney 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
- 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.
- 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.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Sydney?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, kick-offs and leadership offsites in Sydney, in person or virtually.
How far ahead should we book a Sydney event?
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.
Is the talk relevant to financial-services audiences?
Yes. The Grit Code focuses on performing under pressure and adapting the plan, which suits banking and insurance teams.
Which Sydney industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Sydney it suits banking and financial services, telecoms and technology and software audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Sydney?
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 Sydney?
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