Ryan Wilkes is a multitalented storyteller whose passion for science, conservation and wildlife is reflected in his work as a documentary director, cinematographer and photographer.

His diverse background, which includes a PhD in Bioengineering and experience as a materials scientist, gives him a unique perspective when it comes to communicating complex scientific topics in an accessible and engaging way. He regularly shares his work with a community of over 150k on @itsryanwilkes across various social media platforms.

Ryan has filmed on all seven continents and his cinematography can be seen in many nature and science documentaries made for major networks including CBC, PBS NOVA, ARTE. He was the cinematographer on Hunt for the Oldest DNA, written and directed by Niobe Thompson, which premiered at CPH:DOX 2024. Most recently Ryan produced, directed and filmed the short documentary, The Bird in My Backyard, for CBC which won the Wildlife & Environment category at the 2024 Jackson Wild Media Awards and Best Short Film at the 2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival. He is an alumnus of the Jackson Wild Media Lab and the Being Black in Canada filmmaking program, is a member of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective and an Associate Member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. In 2024 Ryan was recognized with the Jackson Wild Rising Star Award.

Ryan is a published photographer and has received several awards for his wildlife photography. He has twice won Canadian Geographic’s Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition (2022 Aquatic Life and 2024 Flora & Fungi).