How I Found Hemp — and a Place at Made In Hemp
By Bronwyn
Like many people, I didn’t grow up knowing much about hemp.
When I first joined Made In Hemp in 2013, I had recently completed both an undergraduate degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition. My studies had focused heavily on the science of food — particularly micronutrients and their role in human health and mental wellbeing — alongside a long-standing love of cooking and experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen.
Hemp, interestingly, barely appeared in any of that education.
At the time, the Australian hemp industry was still in its early stages. Hemp foods were not yet legal for sale, and the plant itself was widely misunderstood. When I saw an opportunity to work at Made In Hemp — initially as a shop assistant with the potential to help develop food products — it felt like a chance to apply my nutrition background in a completely new space.
What I didn’t realise at the time was just how much there was to learn.
A Different Kind of Plant
Very quickly, I discovered that hemp was unlike any ingredient I had encountered before.
From a nutritional perspective, it was fascinating — a whole food containing a naturally balanced combination of protein, essential fatty acids, fibre, vitamins and minerals. From an agricultural perspective, it represented something equally interesting: a crop with remarkable versatility and the potential to be part of more sustainable farming systems.
But perhaps most interesting was the industry itself.
At the time, there were only a handful of businesses in Australia working seriously with hemp foods. Everyone involved seemed to share a sense that the plant had far more potential than most people realised.
Seeing Hemp Through a Nutrition Lens
My academic background shaped the way I approached hemp from the beginning.
My Master’s research focused on micronutrients — particularly zinc — and the role vitamins and minerals can play in supporting mental health. That experience meant I naturally looked at hemp not just as a novelty ingredient, but as a genuinely interesting nutritional food.
Rather than seeing it simply as a “superfood”, I became interested in how it fit into real diets — how its protein, fibre and fatty acid profile could complement everyday nutrition in practical ways.
It also helped me appreciate just how unique hemp is as a food source.
When the Industry Changed
One of the most significant moments came in 2017, when hemp foods were finally legalised for sale in Australia.
The industry changed almost overnight.
What had previously been a small group of early adopters quickly became a much larger and more competitive market. Suddenly there were hundreds of hemp food products appearing across the country — but not necessarily the same level of public understanding about what hemp was or how it could be used.
For us at Made In Hemp, that shift prompted an important question: Where could we make the biggest contribution?
Rather than trying to compete purely on food products, we began expanding in other directions — particularly skincare and education — while continuing to explore the emerging world of hemp extracts and the growing medical cannabis landscape in Australia.
For me personally, this was a fascinating evolution. The intersection between plant science, nutrition, and mental health continues to be an area I care deeply about.
Wearing Many Hats
Over the years my role within Made In Hemp has grown well beyond that first shop assistant position.
Like many small businesses, it has involved wearing many hats — working in retail, helping with product development, supporting customer education, and contributing to the day-to-day running of the business.
I often joke that I’ve become the “orders queen” and unofficial IT support, but the reality is that being part of a small team means everyone contributes in many different ways.
One constant throughout that time has been the opportunity to work alongside Darius Dunn, whose ideas and enthusiasm for hemp continue to drive the business forward. I’m grateful for the trust and support he has shown in allowing me to develop my own interests and projects within the company.
An Industry Still Finding Its Place
More than a decade after I first stepped into the store, the hemp industry in Australia is still evolving.
Public awareness continues to grow, new products and technologies are emerging, and conversations around sustainability, nutrition and plant-based materials are becoming more relevant than ever.
What continues to excite me is that hemp sits at the intersection of so many of these conversations.
Food, farming, textiles, skincare, medicine — few plants have such a wide range of potential applications.
Looking Ahead
Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of both Made In Hemp and the wider Australian hemp industry.
What began as a retail job after finishing my studies has become an ongoing journey of learning, experimentation and collaboration.
Looking ahead, our goal at Made In Hemp remains simple but ambitious: to continue growing thoughtfully — supporting our community, contributing to the Australian hemp industry, and gradually moving closer to a true “soil to skin” model that understands the plant from cultivation through to the products people use every day.
For someone who had barely encountered hemp during my years studying nutrition, discovering the plant through Made In Hemp has been an unexpected and rewarding journey — and one I’m very happy to still be part of.
— Bronwyn
Continue Exploring Hemp
If you're curious about the plant that first drew me into this industry, these guides explore hemp from a nutrition and science perspective.