Michael Davie
Michael Davie is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and journalist who explores conflict, courage, and the human spirit in stories that challenge and inspire.
Compassionate Witness
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Explorer
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Documentarian
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Compassionate Witness • Explorer • Documentarian •
More about Michael
Michael Davie’s work as a director has gained widespread recognition, with films and series airing on National Geographic, Disney+, Netflix, CNN, ABC and the Oprah Winfrey Network. He has received two Emmy Awards (War Child, Gorilla Murders) and an additional five nominations. He is the recipient of an AFI Best Director Award (The Choir) and the Edward R. Murrow Award and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award (Liberia: American Dream?).
Davie has worked extensively on premium documentary series, most recently directing and writing episodes of the long-running National Geographic Channel series, Trafficked. Previously he was a director on the blue chip National Geographic Channel feature-length film Inside the Womb–Animal Babies, a series director on Fox’s historical drama-documentary Lawless and a series director on the Discovery Science drama-documentary series Deadly Intelligence.
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Davie started his work on premium content as the co-creator and a series director on the seven-episode series, Belief, hosted by Oprah Winfrey. For three years Michael helped lead a team of 35 producers and directors to document stories of faith and religion in 28 countries. Variety described the series as “a spell-binding epic…not to be missed.”
In addition to his work as a director and writer Davie has shot more than 30 films. Michael’s feature documentary, The Choir, which he directed, wrote and shot, premiered at the Sydney Film Festival, screened at more than thirty international festivals, and was released theatrically in the US. A true global citizen, this native of Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), Davie grew up in Australia and currently resides in Kenya.
Speaking Topics
Resilience
Geopolitics
Exploration
Culture
Watch Michael in action
Presentations
The Art of Risk: Insights from a Global Journalist
Documentary filmmaker and journalist Michael Davie takes audiences inside some of the world’s most dangerous stories. Through footage and firsthand accounts from acclaimed films including Gorilla Murders, Liberia: American Dream?, War Child, and Assassins, and his recent work on Trafficked, he reveals how calculated risk, meticulous planning, and moral courage serve the pursuit of truth.
The Courage to Connect
For Michael Davie, filmmaking is ultimately about human connection. For 25 years, he has entered hostile, unfamiliar environments to reveal the people behind the headlines. In this compelling stage talk, Michael shares frontline stories from conflict and climate crises—and the practical strategies he uses to build trust anywhere. A powerful lens on connection, empathy, and influence for leaders and organizations.
"We all have the power to change our lives and make the world a better place."
– Michael Davie