Everything you need to know about hemp building at the September 2026 Australian Industrial Hemp Conference in Geelong
The September 2026 Australian Industrial Hemp Conference (AIHC) is shaping up as one of the biggest dates on the calendar for anyone working in hemp construction. Running 21–23 September 2026 at the Rydges Geelong Events Centre in Geelong, Victoria. This year’s theme is Growing Together, bringing growers, processors, researchers, builders and policymakers into the same room.
While the three-day program covers fibre, food, construction and manufacturing broadly, Day 1 leans heavily into hemp building and materials, making it essential viewing for anyone in our directory network.
Why Day 1 matters for hemp building
Two of the four Day 1 sessions are dedicated entirely to materials: hempcrete, fibre testing, whole hemp housing and building standards. It’s a rare chance to hear directly from the people doing the research, growing the crop, and building the houses, all on one stage.
A number of organisations and people listed on the Hemp Building Directory are speaking or featured across the day:
Murray Industrial Hemp (MIH), Leigh Fletcher. MIH is presenting on industrial hemp supply out of the Murray region, one of the key growing and processing operations feeding Australia’s construction-grade hemp.
X-Hemp, Andi Lucas. Andi is speaking on the Australian Hemp Fibre Processing (AHFP) initiative, alongside her work as President of the Tasmanian Hemp Association.
Ashford Hemp Industries, Connie Minos. Connie joins the AHFP conversation from the Ashford Hemp Industries side, adding a grower and processor’s perspective to the fibre discussion.
Hemp Building Directory, Kirstie Wulf & Jeremy Thomas. We’ll be presenting on the directory itself in Session 3, alongside Deakin University, Bauhaus and CSIRO-affiliated speakers, a nice bit of company to keep.
Zac Efron House, Joost Bakker (via Zoom). Also in Session 3 is a look at the hempcrete house built for actor Zac Efron by designer Joost Bakker, a project that’s driven a steady stream of curious visitors to our directory since it went public. Expect plenty of interest in this one.
We’ll also give a shout out to Australian Hemp Masonry (AHMC), a directory sponsor member doing solid work in hempcrete construction and training, even outside the formal program.
Hemp cooking demonstration and drinks tasting
Day 1 wraps up with something a bit different, an evening hemp cooking demonstration provided by Good Country Hemp, plus a hemp vodka, gin and beer tasting. If you’ve never tried hemp spirits, this is the session to catch. It’s a good, relaxed way to close out a day that’s otherwise fairly heavy on materials science and building standards.
Full Day 1 program
8:00am — Registration 8:45am — Start
Welcome by Richard Barge (MC) and Welcome to Country (Wadawurrung )
Session 1 — Richard Barge
- Opening & welcome
- Pentarch (timber & agriculture)
- Industry emergence
- Objectives & outcomes
10:30–11:00am — Morning Tea
Session 2: Materials 1 — Kirstie Wulf
- Murray Industrial Hemp — Leigh Fletcher (MIH)
- AHFP — Andi Lucas (X-Hemp)
- AHFP — Connie Minos
- Testing hemp composites — Alex Webb (CSIRO)
- Australian Standards — TBC
12:30–1:30pm — Lunch
Session 3: Materials 2 — Klara Marosszeky
- Whole hemp housing — Sabrina Lucas (Deakin University)
- Hemp Building Directory — Kirstie Wulf & Jeremy Thomas
- AI, design & sustainability — TBC
- Bauhaus and industrial hemp — Patricia Jeglietsch (Bauhaus)
- Zac Efron House — Joost Bakker
- Hemp housing LCA — Md Noor E Alam Siddique (SCU)
3:00–3:30pm — Afternoon Tea
Session 4: Materials 3 — Colin Steddy
- Hemp fibre testing — Deakin University
- Advanced Fibres — Advanced Fibre Cluster (Geelong)
- Practiced use — Carrfields (Travis Ryan-Salter)
- Ginning hemp — Carroll Cotton (Scott Davies)
- Insulation & packaging — TBC
- Natural fibre WTP — Swinburne (Sorada Tapsuwan)
Evening
Hemp Cooking Demonstration — provided by Good Country Hemp, with hemp vodka, gin and beer tasting.
FAQ
When is the September 2026 Australian Industrial Hemp Conference? The AIHC runs from 21–23 September 2026 at the Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre in Geelong, Victoria.
What does Day 1 of the AIHC focus on? Day 1 is heavily weighted toward hemp construction and materials, with three of four sessions covering hempcrete, fibre testing, whole hemp housing and building standards.
Who is speaking about hemp building at AIHC 2026? Speakers include Murray Industrial Hemp, X-Hemp, Ashford Hemp Industries, CSIRO, Deakin University, and the Hemp Building Directory, among others.
Is there a social event on Day 1? Yes — an evening hemp cooking demonstration from Good Country Hemp, with hemp vodka, gin and beer tasting.
Where can I find the full conference program? Full program and ticketing details are available on the Australian Industrial Hemp Conference website.
Disclaimer
HBD do not warrant the quality or experience of anyone listed on this directory.
We have relied on the information provided by the business and its representatives.
This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute building advice, or other professional advice.
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