Skip to content
Paris Norriss
Home / Past speaking events

Durlston Partners: grit and resilience for a high-pressure team

By Paris Norriss··Event recap
Durlston Partners – The Grit Code keynote

The event

In August 2025, Paris Norriss delivered The Grit Code in London to the team at Durlston Partners. “It was a pleasure,” he wrote afterwards, describing them as a smart team.

What Paris spoke about

The keynote centred on one idea that Paris summed up simply: “In high pressure environments, grit and resilience are a daily requirement.”

For a team working under constant pressure, grit is not something saved for a crisis. It is the habit of showing up, adapting and keeping standards high day after day. The Grit Code turns stories from the Pacific Ocean and seven marathons on seven continents into practical lessons for exactly that kind of environment.

Highlights

  • The Grit Code keynote for Durlston Partners in London.
  • Focus: grit and resilience as daily requirements in high-pressure work.

About The Grit Code keynote

The Grit Code is built on real stories from extreme environments. Paris rowed 4,800km across the Pacific Ocean in 2023 with the Brothers N Oars crew, a row that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation. He also ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, in Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.

From those experiences he draws practical lessons on purpose, vision, limiting beliefs, adapting a plan and keeping a clear head under pressure. He has delivered the keynote for audiences including the UN Tourism General Assembly, TEDx Amman, COP28, Expo 2020, DHL, Nokia, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Durlston Partners in London and Surfbreak in Honolulu. Every talk starts with a briefing call, so the stories connect to your theme, your industry and the challenges your people are facing right now.

“In high pressure environments, grit & resilience are a daily requirement.”
— Paris Norriss on LinkedIn

Want Paris for your own conference or leadership event? Read more about The Grit Code, see more past speaking events or send an enquiry. Planning an event in the region? See Paris as a keynote speaker in the UK.

Speaking in London

Keynote speaker in London · Keynote speaker in the UK · All keynote speaker locations

About the speaker

Who Paris is

Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and 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. Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.

Why this matters for organisers

Proof behind the story

Every appearance, interview and talk on this page sits in the same body of work: expeditions that can be checked, television that reached 123 countries, and a business he runs as CEO. Organisers who want The Grit Code keynote can book a 45–60 minute session, a virtual version, or a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.

Paris also hosts as MC, including as a regular host of AI Talks by Founders, and has hosted at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and at the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh.

Book Paris

Next steps for your event

Share the date, format and audience, and Paris will reply with a short outline. He holds a briefing call before each booking so the examples match the room. He presents as an adventurer and as CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.

He is an ambassador for Land Rover Middle East, TAG Heuer Middle East, The Capital Club, Paramount Hotel and Rove Hotel, and an ambassador for the charity Gulf for Good.

More context

Credentials and formats

Paris is a regular host of AI Talks by Founders, has hosted at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and at the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh, and was a brand ambassador for Land Rover Middle East, TAG Heuer Middle East, The Capital Club, Paramount Hotel and Rove Hotel. He is an ambassador for the charity Gulf for Good.

Bookings can include the keynote alone, the keynote plus workshop, or hosting as MC. He grew up at Longleat, studied at Edinburgh University, lived in Muscat from 2009 to 2012, and has spent 17 years in the Gulf.

Background

Expeditions, television and business

Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, starting in Antarctica and finishing in Miami, with Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza in between. In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.

His television work includes Guy in Dubai, which has 22 million views, and shows distributed in 123 countries. He has hosted at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and at the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh, and he is a regular host of AI Talks by Founders. He grew up at Longleat, studied finance at Edinburgh University, lived in Muscat from 2009 to 2012, and has spent 17 years in the Gulf.

Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. Organisers can book The Grit Code as a 45–60 minute keynote, a 30–45 minute virtual version, or with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day. Paris can also host the day as MC.

FAQ

Common questions

Who is Paris Norriss?

A keynote speaker on grit and mindset, adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries.

What is The Grit Code?

His main keynote on grit and resilience, built on the 7 marathons on 7 continents and the 2023 Pacific row.

Can Paris speak at our event?

Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually.

Is a workshop available?

Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day.

Who has Paris spoken for?

Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.

What challenges does Paris draw on?

The 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km.

Does Paris still present television?

Yes. His shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and he is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios.

How do we book him?

Share the date, format and audience. He replies with a short outline and holds a briefing call before the event.

Chat with us