bambadie@gmail.com

Michel Abadie is a seasoned journalist, filmmaker, designer, airplane builder, and a passionate advocate for bamboo with over three decades of experience. His professional journey began as a press attaché for the French embassy in Manila, Philippines, and extended into various industries, including sustainable development for a media group (Lagardère - France), where he served as Associate Director. He is also a bamboo enthusiast, active in bamboo counseling and development, and a graduate of the School of Journalism in Bordeaux and EHESS in Paris.

Michel’s passion for bamboo began at the second International Bamboo Congress (IBC) in Anduze, France, in 1988, and since then, he has been a key figure in promoting bamboo globally. In 1990, he became the president of the European Bamboo Society and later played a pivotal role in launching a global bamboo network at the 1991 International Bamboo Workshop in Chiangmai, Thailand. His involvement spans numerous projects, including creating "Le Monde du Bambou-Paris" and organizing significant bamboo exhibitions in Paris and Brussels, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Throughout the 1990s, Michel directed bamboo-focused films, designed and built bamboo airplanes, and participated in key international events, including the World Bamboo Congress (WBC) and various bamboo development projects in countries such as China, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and more.

In 2007, after a decade of working in the media sector focusing on sustainability, Michel returned to his passion for bamboo, becoming the president of the World Bamboo Organization (WBO). He has since played a central role in organizing and participating in global bamboo workshops and congresses across India, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and beyond.

Among his notable achievements, Michel has developed bamboo products, including bamboo flooring, and pioneered the use of bamboo in futuristic industries like transportation. His contributions to the World Bamboo Congress have been vital, and he remains a strong advocate for using bamboo to address global challenges, particularly through projects such as bamboo cars, boats, and pavilions.

Michel continues to lead and inspire the global bamboo community, emphasizing bamboo’s potential as a sustainable material for the future.