Mike Downie is a celebrated documentary filmmaker and philanthropist. Most recently, he directed and produced The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, a powerful exploration of the band’s legacy and its deep connection to Canada’s cultural identity. It premiered at TIFF 2024, where it won the prestigious People’s Choice Award for Documentary, and recently won seven Canadian Screen Awards. Downie is also the co-founder of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the largest reconciliation fund in the country, and, along with his brother, Gord, created Secret Path, the groundbreaking multimedia project that tells the tragic story of Chanie Wenjack. Through his work and speaking engagements, he inspires audiences to embrace storytelling as a means of connection, change, and creating cultural identity.

Downie’s work has earned multiple Canadian Screen Awards, including the prestigious Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary. His other award-winning documentaries include Invasion of the Brain Snatchers, The Hockey Nomad, One Ocean, and The Covid Cruise, all of which showcase his ability to tell compelling, wide-ranging stories.

Downie’s keynotes weave personal storytelling with powerful insights, drawing from his experiences growing up in a small town, working in a northern mine, and traveling the world as a filmmaker. His talks resonate with audiences looking for inspiration, authenticity, and a deeper understanding of the stories that shape us.

With a background spanning science, economics, and adventure — including time as a deep shaft miner, medical researcher, and windsurfing instructor — Downie brings a unique perspective to every stage. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Queen’s University, and an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business

Dr. Tom Deans is the author of, three books on the subject of family wealth transfers. His first book, Every Family’s Business: 12 Common Sense Questions to Protect Your Wealth, remains the best-selling family business book of all-time -- selected by The New York Times as one of the Top Ten Books Business Owners Should Read. The book has sold more than 1.5 million copies in more than 100 countries. In May 2025 Forbes named Every Family’s Business to their Best-seller List.

His second book, Willing Wisdom: Seven Questions Successful Families Ask, has received critical acclaim for its explanation of why 15 million Canadian adults do not have a legal will.

In May 2024, Dr. Deans released The Happy Inheritor: How Successful Families Prepare Heirs and Transfer Wealth, the third and final book in his Family Wealth Trilogy. This ground-breaking book reinforces the importance of preparing the next generation for the $300 million that is inherited every day by Canadians.

Having delivered more than 2000 speeches in 29 countries, he is regarded as the preeminent thought-leader on the subject of inter-generational wealth transfers.

Deans is a graduate of Mount Allison University, McMaster University and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick in England.

His books and speeches aren’t just about money and clever tax plans. They’re about giving people the confidence and inspiration to begin important family conversations to transition wealth with confidence and clarity.

Ryan has spent his entire career in the automotive industry and has a wide array of experiences ranging from field claims appraiser, body shop manager, and as a regional director for a large recycled parts supplier.

 In his current role, Ryan works with a multitude of industry stakeholders including insurance executives and material damage leaders to provide actionable insights and consultative direction for their organizations with a heavy reliance on data analytics.

 Ryan earned his Master of Arts degree from Northern Arizona University and Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego.  Ryan has spoken at numerous industry events and is a frequent author of content related to auto insurance, vehicle complexity, and collision repair whose research has been cited by the New York Times, Road & Track, CNBC, and Automotive News among others.  He lives with his wife and four sons in Greenville, South Carolina.