Allya Davidson

Allya Davidson is a multiple Emmy, RTDNA and Canadian Screen Award-winning journalist. She is executive producer of CBC News’ flagship investigative documentary program, The Fifth Estate. The Fifth Estate, whose landmark 50th season launches Autumn 2024,  is one of few Canadian programs to count both Emmys and Oscars as well Governor General’s awards among its honours. Recent investigations into questions about singer Buffy Sainte-Marie’s claims Indigenous ancestry sparked conversation around the world. The Canadian Federal police (RCMP) credited The Fifth Estate with garnering new leads after the show’s probe of the Patel family’s death at the Canada/U.S. border. An investigation into alleged state-sponsored killings of Canadian Sikh activists saw that episode restricted in India. 

Allya has produced and directed over 20 documentaries and contributed to over 40. She has worked for some of journalism’s most trusted brands including Channel 4 (UK), ZDF (Germany), Four Corners (Australia), PBS Frontline, VICE, CBC and CTV.  Her work spans the worlds of television current affairs, feature documentaries and investigative journalism. She is passionate about mentoring racialized journalists and advancing equity in the field.

Her TV journalism career began in the UK, where Allya was a researcher on the three-part documentary series “Sudan: The Breakup” for Al Jazeera English and Arabic. She has an honours Bachelor of Arts in English and World Religions from Montreal’s McGill University, and also studied film at the Sorbonne in Paris. Allya holds a Master’s degree in broadcast journalism from City, University of London.