Bryan received his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Arts degrees in history at the University of Saskatchewan and Carleton Universities respectively. Bryan is a Certified Archivist (CA) and a Certified Systems Professional (CSP).

He began his career at the then Public Archives of Canada in Ottawa in 1969 as the archivist responsible for the archival records of the federal government relating to agriculture, land settlement, immigration, surveys, forestry, fisheries, mines and minerals, national parks, and university lands endowment. During his time at what became the National Archives of Canada, Bryan became the manager of the Natural Resources Records Section of the Federal Archives Division. In addition he was responsible for the records retrieval functions for the Archives. While at the National Archives he co-authored a study of the records management system of the federal government as a means of the identification, acquisition and preservation of the permanently valuable records of the federal government. This study resulted in major changes to the federal Administrative Policy Manual relating to records and information management.

In 1981, Bryan accepted the position of Coordinator, Records Management, with Canada’s newly created Crown Corporation, Petro-Canada, in Calgary. During his five years with Petro-Canada, he was responsible for the expansion of the records program to include archives, inactive records storage, contracts management, micrographics (more than 4 million documents per year), records classification systems development, policy and procedures development, and records scheduling and disposal. He concluded his time with Petro-Canada as Supervisor, Methods and Procedures, where he was responsible for the development of changes to such diverse areas as library services and travel policy.

After his employment with Petro-Canada, Bryan spent some time as an information management, archival and policy procedures analyst and consultant. His clients included Peace Pipe Line and the Alberta Energy Conservation Board.

In 1987, Bryan joined the staff of the University of Alberta as Chief Archivist, University of Alberta Archives, within the department of University Archives and Collections. During this time, he developed a guideline for the classification of University records and refined the University’s process for the development of records retention and disposal. He was a major player in the planning and development of the Book and Records Depository (BARD) for this remote records storage and research information supply facility.

In 1997 Bryan was appointed Coordinator of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) as well as University Archivist. In that capacity he was responsible for the development and implementation of the FOIPP program including communications strategy development, policy and procedures development, forms review, manuals and handbooks inventory, records inventory and directory creation, FOIPP training and education, and inquiry response. With the completion of the planning, development and much of the records management phases of FOIPP implementation, Bryan continued in his role of University Archivist including the records management aspects of FOIPP administration.

Bryan has been an active player in the Alberta, Canadian and international archival and information management communities having served in many capacities in professional associations and community organizations. He is a founding member of the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) and the Archives Society of Alberta (ASA). He has served on or been chair of every committee of the ACA including being its President from 2000-2002. He twice served as President of the ASA. He served two terms as President of the Edmonton Chapter of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) International. He has served on two committees of the International Council of Archives and on the Education Committee of the Society of American Archivists.

Bryan has been actively involved in archival education nationally and internationally. He was involved at various levels in the development of graduate and continuing education guidelines for archival studies programs in Canada and the United States. He continues to be involved in the American Library Association’s Accreditation Program for Canadian and American Schools of Library, Information Sciences and Archival Studies. He has made presentations on archival education and practices in Canada, the United States and as far away as China and Nigeria. Bryan has published over 15 articles and reviews and coordinated the publication of From the Past to the Future: A Guide to the Holdings of the University of Alberta Archives. The guide is available on the web site of the University Archives.

Bryan has been the recipient of the Allan D Ridge Publications Award Special Award of Merit of the Archives Society of Alberta. The Edmonton Chapter of ARMA International honoured him with its Distinguished Achievement Award (1992), it’s Chapter Member of the Year Award (1993) and its President’s Award (1996).