About Australian Bamboo Plantations | Australia’s Leading Bamboo Expert Team

Our Story

Australian Bamboo Plantations was founded on a conviction that bamboo — one of the most
versatile and regenerative plants on earth — could become the foundation of an entirely new industry in Australia.

That conviction has become a strategy. Today, ABP brings together the most experienced and capable bamboo team ever assembled in this country. Our seven core team members span bamboo agronomy, plantation management, propagation science, mechanised harvesting, manufacturing, sustainability, land acquisition, First Nations engagement, and commercial bamboo product development.

We work at the intersection of agriculture, energy, construction, and environmental restoration. We don’t just consult — we grow, harvest, process, and build. Our mission is to establish a commercially viable, environmentally regenerative bamboo industry in Australia: an industry that restores degraded land, decarbonises construction and transport, strengthens rural economies, and provides sovereign supply security.

ABP operates alongside House of Bamboo, Australia’s premium bamboo building materials company, and the Bamboo Society of Australia, the national industry body. Together, these three organisations span the entire Australian bamboo value chain — from the ground to the built environment.

Our Team

Durnford Dart

Senior Advisor | Agronomy & Plantation
Australia’s most experienced bamboo cultivator, having established a commercial bamboo enterprise in 1989. Over three decades of species trials and Australian cultivation expertise that cannot be transferred from overseas systems. Durnford’s knowledge of how bamboo species perform in Australian soils, climates, and conditions is unmatched. He has trialled hundreds of species across multiple growing regions and his data forms the foundation of ABP’s species selection methodology.

Jennifer Snyders

Founder & CEO | Leadership & Bamboo Expert
Founder of ABP and House of Bamboo; President, Bamboo Society of Australia. Architect and internationally recognised bamboo visionary with over 25 years’ experience in the bamboo industry and a track record as the leading advocate and commercial driver for bamboo in the Australian built environment. Jennifer’s vision is to establish a fully sovereign bamboo supply chain in Australia — from plantation to product — and she leads ABP’s strategic partnerships, government engagement, investor relations, and industry development.

Vic Dorsen

Project Leader | Manufacturing & Operations
International experience in manufacturing and senior leadership across Hunter Douglas, Toshiba, and Esselte. Proven expertise in establishing and scaling manufacturing plants and operational supply chains. Vic brings the commercial and operational rigour needed to take ABP from plantation to production, with particular expertise in factory design, production line commissioning, and supply chain optimisation.

Petterson Barroso

Specialist | Plantation Management & Propagation
Former Federal Superintendent of Agriculture, Brazil. Bamboo expert, particularly in propagation systems, nursery infrastructure, and plant verification processes that underpin plantation reliability. Petterson’s expertise ensures ABP’s planting programs are built on world-class propagation science, with quality control processes that guarantee the genetic integrity and health of every seedling planted.

Carlos Rivera

Senior Leader | Agri-Tech, Machinery & IT

Senior leader and specialist in agri-tech, including planting and harvesting machinery, operational scalability, and corporate IT systems. Carlos integrates GPS mapping, crop monitoring, yield tracking, and performance reporting into plantation operations, and has developed ABP’s proprietary mechanised harvesting system — purpose-built for Australian conditions and commercial-scale bamboo operations.

Justin Popp

Regulatory Lead, Stakeholder Engagement & Land Acquisition

Justin brings extensive senior government experience across stakeholder engagement, land management, strategic communications and project feasibility. At ABP, he leads regulatory engagement, manages the sequencing between technical planning and physical establishment, and drives community and First Nations partnerships — building the genuine, long-term relationships foundational to operating respectfully on country. He also brings firsthand knowledge of Australia’s bamboo industry, having operated a retail bamboo nursery

Jenni Whitnall

Lead | Sustainability & Operations
Leads ABP’s climate and sustainability framework, carbon market strategy, and institutional investment alignment. Extensive senior leadership and operations experience in corporate and advisory sectors, including agricultural start-ups. Jenni ensures ABP’s environmental claims are rigorous, measurable, independently verifiable, and aligned to the expectations of institutional funders and government programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is ABP based?

ABP is an Australian company with its primary development focus in the Townsville region of North Queensland. Our consultancy and advisory services are available across Australia.

How long has ABP been operating?

ABP’s founder Jennifer Snyders has over 25 years of experience in the Australian bamboo industry. The ABP team collectively brings over 60 years of combined bamboo expertise. Team member Durnford Dart established his commercial bamboo enterprise in 1989, making him Australia’s longest-operating bamboo cultivator.

What is the relationship between ABP, House of Bamboo, and the Bamboo Society of Australia?

ABP (Australian Bamboo Plantations) is a bamboo plantation and consultancy company. House of Bamboo (HOB) is Australia’s premium bamboo building materials company, supplying architects, designers, and builders. The Bamboo Society of Australia (BSA) is the national industry body, operating independently to advocate for the bamboo sector. All three are led or co-led by Jennifer Snyders. Together they span the entire bamboo value chain from cultivation to construction.