William Macadam was born in London and educated in England and the logging camps of the west coast of Canada. He subsequently operated a "Bush" airline there. He also later helped pioneer Canadian independent television production and film through his production companies. He produced and directed investigative documentaries, drama series, and movies and chaired various Canadian film and television industry organisations. He retired to his family farm in Norfolk UK and has been active in countryside conservation causes there. He is also the curator of the Ivison Macadam Archives as well as curator of the Caroline Ladd Corbett Archives of her Corbett Oregon family.