Industrial Hemp Western Australia Association Inc
About iHempWA
Industrial Hemp Western Australia Association Inc. (iHempWA) is a public not-for-profit incorporated entity. The association is defined by iHempWA’s Rules of Association and governed by the Associations Incorporation Act 2015.
Our Purpose: Trusted Industry Voice that Connects, Guides and Builds the Western Australian Industrial Hemp Industry
Our Vision: Be the Centre of All Things Hemp – Global Awareness, Local Action
Our Mission: We drive policy, education, support for industry, research and innovation, to make hemp a mainstream product in everyday life for everyone
iHempWA is given life by the committee and members, we volunteer our time and energy to achieve our mission. We meet monthly and our revenue is derived from memberships and fund-raising events. It is our intention that the association continue to be a vehicle of positive change and ultimately create a better world for our brothers and sisters and for all our children’s children.
All donations to iHempWA are economical, ecological, ethical and energetic investments in our collective futures…
There’s a groundswell building and a green wave coming… iHempWA the Centre of All Things Hemp.
Vision Statement
Our original vision:
- to establish, develop and support a sustainable and prosperous hemp industry for Western Australia;
- to foster the growing awareness of hemp, revealing the true nature of Cannabis Sativa, its ancient and modern history, the vast array of uses and products that can be made from hemp and its potent economical, ecological and ethical value;
- to represent, the best interests, of our members and all Western Australian hemp industry stakeholders, farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers and consumers; and
- to build mutually beneficial, collaborative working relationships with existing local, state and national public agencies, private investors and other organisations with common values to realise our vision.
We need human resources, or enough money to employ, self motivated people with passion, energy and skills to deliver our objectives. We invite everyone who shares our vision to get involved. Help make the world a better place Join iHempWA today.
iHempWA we drive policy, education, support for industry, research and innovation, to make hemp a mainstream product in everyday life for everyone
Incorporated 4 August 2015 A1019234F
ABN: 83228554107
Committee History
With respect, love and gratitude we acknowledge and remember the efforts of all our previous committee members.
Previous Committee 2021-22: Armando Formica (Chair) David Chick (Vice), Brigit Anderson (Secretary), Matthew Watson (Treasurer), Georgina Wilkinson, Gail Stubber, Samantha Richardson, Matthew Madlener, Lisa Molcher, Ken Power and Alison Rogers.
Previous Committee 2020-21: David Chick (Chair), Jennie Olszenski (Vice), Stephanie Brown (Secretary), Matthew Watson (Treasurer), Georgina Wilkinson, Glenn Ossy-Orley, Gail Stubber, Samantha Richardson, Matthew Madlener, Grant Ibis Seaborn, Lisa Molcher and James Leadbeater.
Previous Committee 2019-20: Georgina Wilkinson (Chair), Jennie Olszenski (Vice), Stephanie Brown (Treasurer), Kerry James (Secretary), David Chick, Glenn Ossy-Orley, Sharon Devine, Matthew Watson, Ramon Granados, Nicole Botica and Gail Stubber.
Previous Committee 2018-19: Georgina Wilkinson (Chair), Gail Stubber (Vice), Sherree Jones (Treasurer), David Chick (Secretary), Glenn Ossy-Orley, Sharon Devine, Matthew Watson, Nicole Botica.
Previous Committee 2017 -18: Georgina Wilkinson (Chair), Gail Stubber (Vice), Sherree Jones (Treasurer), David Chick (Secretary), Glenn Ossy-Orley, James Cranfield, Tarn Jeal and Nicole Botica.
Previous Committee 2016-17: Glenn Ossy-Orley (Chair), Georgiina Wilkinson (Vice), Sharon Devine (Treasurer), David Chick (Secretary), Gail Stubber, Jean Tunbridge, James Cranfield and Tarn Jeal.
Original Committee elected 10 October 2015: Glenn Ossy-Orley (Chair), Georgina Wilkinson (Vice), Bronwyn Blake (Treasurer), David Chick (Secretary), Colin Steddy, Gary Rogers, Melanie Somerset, Brad Satchell, Kellie Naylor, Charley Cannon, James Cranfield.
Committee Officers
Iggy Van
Iggy has a passion for sustainability, finding ways to contribute to a better world.
He studied Mechanical Engineering in the Netherlands and found his way to Australia as part of his studies. A girl kept him here.
Iggy became a generalist engineer having worked in electrical, structural, construction, civil engineering sector, mostly in project management and team management. He also had a business in computers and an Internet Service Provider. Later in his career Iggy became asset manager and policy and program manager for water services in aboriginal communities in Western Australia.
Iggy founded Hemp Squared as a result of several stars that lined up. He wanted to use his skill and expertise in the ESG sector. He was looking at building a sustainable house on a very challenging steep site and wanted to positively contribute to a better future for society. All those points let to hemp blocks. Unavailability of the blocks in Australia resulted in Iggy founding the business.
Georgina Wilkinson
Georgina has been involved in the Australian Hemp Industry since 2001. She is the owner of the Margaret River Hemp Company, and with her husband Gary Rogers run a successful
Building Company, Hemp Homes Australia. She is also the Vice President of the Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance.
Alison Rogers
After working for nearly 30 years for an international skincare company I became interested in a more sustainable, natural approach to skincare and health. My research led me to the incredible benefits of Hemp Seed Oil.
I spent the next 18 months employed with by GREEN HEMP Australia in a sales and admin role. I joined iHempWA and became aware of the progresses made and challenges faced by our local Western Australia Hemp Farmers. I also learnt about so many other uses of Industrial Hemp from the building and textile industries to medical use, just to name a few. I have been quite amazed about what a game changing, environmentally friendly resource the Hemp plant is.
I founded my own business, Sunrise Hemp in October 2021.Sunrise Hemp produces and markets a range of Handmade Artisan Skincare products. All the products are made with Hemp Seed Oil that has been grown and pressed in Western Australia.
It is an honor to be Treasurer for iHempWA.
David Chick
An eclectic career history spanning decades and crossing genres has developed his ability to see the big picture, isolate challenges, envision solutions, share ideas, motivate and manage people.
Inspired by the global view to act locally; empowered with knowledge of the hemp plant’s potential to assist humanity heal themselves and their earth and; committed to give of his energy to create a positive effect for people and planet today and tomorrow.
Colleen Roberts
Colleen has had an interest and been studying all things hemp for the last few years. This came about after initially hearing how CBD helped people that had seizures from a documentary. Colleen herself had a heart condition and was also looking into natural health therapy. The more she researched, the more dedicated she came to understanding the many benefits of hemp and the cannabis plant overall.
Earlier this year through a series of "coincidences" Colleen then became a rep and stockist for Provex through the owners (licenced Western Australian industrial hemp growers with their farm in Pinjarra). She is also studying hemp cultivation through an online course.
Colleen went to an industrial hemp event - Food, Fibre and Land in November and then by chance came across the iHemp WA Association website where she saw there was a voluntary vacancy as Assistant Secretary.and contacted David. She became a member and was given access to start updating the website and look at developing the draft Strategic Plan.
Committee Members
Hon Sophia Moermond
I am a member of the Legislative Council in the Western Australian Parliament since March 2021, and now also an honorary board member to iHempWA.
I feel so honoured to be given this position and will aim to be a voice in parliament to support our burgeoning Western Australian Hemp industry.
I have a background as an RN, a Naturopath, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. As such I understand that we need to live in harmony with our environment and follow nature. One plant which can help us achieve that is Hemp, which can be used for many things, from housing to clothing to food and medicine.
Gail Stubber
Presently a hemp farmer and EO of the WA Hemp Growers’ Co-op.
The hemp space in WA is dynamic and growing with every year a crop is put in. People are constantly amazed at how many items can be produced by a single plant. This is the challenge of hemp and why I love the plant. It makes people heads spin with the possibilities. It was these possibilities which drew me to hemp and keep me interested. Also working with the Co-op farmers - who are a wonderful group of people.
Sharlene Mavor
Sharlene is a Medical Scientist in Diagnostic Pathology (BAppSc in Medical Laboratory Science (Majors - Immunology, Microbiology and Biotechnology) and Co-Founder and Managing Director of registered education Australian charity/NFO, Medical Cannabis Research Australia (MCRA). She has spent the last 5 years researching the available scientific literature on how Medical Cannabis may treat different symptoms and disorders.
She’s travelled to the US, UK, Canada, Israel, Colombia, and Chile to learn firsthand from the leading researchers and clinicians in this new field of cannabinoid science. She has been able to share this knowledge by running seminars and webinars for medical professionals and patients, with her team, under the banner of MCRA. This charity has over the last 5 years become a leading resource in Australia for education around medicinal cannabis, as well as for advice for patients (14K Facebook followers). She is committed to advocating and lobbying for the use and easier access to medical cannabis for patients in Australia, as well as promoting and contributing to more trialled research, to provide clinicians, both in Australia and in the rest of the world, the evidence they require to pursue this treatment for their patients.
She is an associate member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and a founding member of the Australian Chapter of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She is also an MC for the Speakers Room at Hemp, Health & Innovation Expos around Australia.
Sharlene is involved in 2 clinical research projects, the first being a clinical trial using Cannabidiol (CBD) for methamphetamine addiction, to be run in Perth, WA. She is an Associate Researcher for this trial. The 2nd is an observational study to observe how 3 different formulations of pharmaceutical cannabis oil medicines affect different self-reported parameters in participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This will be Australia-wide. She has written and will be running this study in conjunction with GP, Dr Matty Moore.
Sharlene is currently pursuing her dream of building a hempcrete house in Wilyabrup, WA, after meeting and being inspired by Gary Rogers from Hemp Homes Australia. It has been a long process in design, approvals and the build itself, but the house, destined for luxury short-term accommodation, is close to completion. She hopes to offer this house up as a showcase of how beautiful, sustainable, eco-friendly, and frankly, superior to other methods of building hempcrete can be.
Lastly, but not least, Sharlene is a founder, major shareholder and head of research and development, for a new hemp food and beverage company, Omega Assets. This entity owns and runs Valley Social, a brewery which produces hemp-infused beers (the Herbee range), and also sells hemp infused spirits (vodka and gin) in the Swan Valley, WA. Other exciting hemp beverages and food offerings are in development – watch this space!
Samantha Richardson
They say that diversification is the key to longevity in business, so when given the task of diversify our family Hydroponics business in Joondalup I started researching fast growth industries and values based business.
In March 2020, I came across a TED talk where Amy Ansel spoke about how Hemp Holds the Key to a Sustainable Future. It resinated with me, aligned with all of my values. I started researching Hemp (Cannabis Sativa – Marijuana’s cousin!) and now believe that it is the most amazing plant on the planet!
When given a chance to join the iHemp committee to help establish and support a sustainable and prosperous hemp industry for Western Australia I jumped at it!
I will thoroughly enjoy generating awareness of this magical plant’s abilities, to work with a fantastic group of like minded people, to share big ideas and act on visions for a more sustainable future. Where business is for the people and the planet not the profit! I have found my calling!
I am doing this for the plant, the people and the planet!
Please join me on my iHemp journey…
