Bamboo Society of Australia
- A three-city national summit will mark the first coordinated push to scale bamboo in Australia's construction, land restoration, and climate strategy — aiming to shift the industry from curiosity to commercialisation.
- From 18–20 June, the Bamboo Society of Australia will launch the Next Frontier Summit, bringing together architects, policymakers, farmers, investors and global experts to explore bamboo's potential as one of the world's most sustainable building and reforestation materials.
- Already in use across Asia and Europe in structural beams, panels, and even multi-storey buildings, engineered bamboo remains underutilised in Australia — despite being fast-growing, carbon-sequestering, and stronger than steel by weight.
- "We've hit a tipping point," said Jennifer Snyders, President of the Bamboo Society. "Bamboo is no longer a novelty — it's a serious answer to three national challenges: carbon, supply, and climate resilience."
- Headlining the Summit is Neil Thomas MBE, world-renowned structural engineer behind The Arc at the Green School in Bali — a groundbreaking bamboo structure acclaimed for its innovation. He'll be joined by leading figures such as Professor Yan Xiao (Zhejiang University), sustainability strategist Isabelle van der Griend, and David Sands, whose company Rizome is investing $150 million into bamboo reforestation in Asia.
- "Bamboo is the most exciting natural material I've worked with in over 30 years," said Thomas. "Its strength, flexibility and renewability make it ideal for Australia's next generation of buildings."
- The Summit, held in the Sunshine Coast, Sydney, and Melbourne, will feature 20+ speakers exploring:
- Structural innovation with engineered bamboo
- Climate-smart design and sustainable architecture
- Local growing, policy reform and regional investment
- Insights from the Summit will inform the development of Australia's 10-Year Bamboo Roadmap, launching on World Bamboo Day — 18 September 2025.
- Why This Matters:
- Australia lags in adopting low-carbon construction methods
- Bamboo is regenerative, ultra-fast growing, and absorbs more carbon than trees
- Unlocking its use could transform regional economies and architectural practices
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