Sowing success: The property boss spurring growth in real estate… and in the garden

Lisa Pennell knows a thing or two about growth, whether it’s cultivating tomatoes in her backyard or helping Barry Plant’s property professionals take the next step in their careers. 

Ms Pennell – chief executive of Australian real estate network Barry Plant – had such a strong harvest from her backyard garden over the past season that she had to give away many of her home-grown vegetables and herbs to friends, family and colleagues.

“I love to garden and watch things grow,” she told Realestate.com.au. 

“There’s a real delight in eating vegetables straight out of your garden, but it’s also something that helps me recalibrate and be present in the moment. 

“It’s the same at work… I love nothing more than mentoring and developing people and teams.”  

Beyond the backyard, Ms Pennell has also been sowing seeds at Barry Plant over the past two years and nurturing green shoots that represent the next stage of growth for the legacy business.  

“We’re two years into our three-year plan to ensure we have cutting-edge technology, incredible branding and the best customer service, so this year is our year of growth,” she said.  

Barry Plant chief executive Lisa Pennell started in the real estate industry in the early 2000s. Picture: Supplied

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How it began 

Ms Pennell’s journey into a leadership role in Australia’s real estate industry has been anything but conventional.  

She started out as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after studying commerce in Queensland, but quickly realised that it wasn’t for her.  

Instead, she jumped into the burgeoning mobile phone industry in Australia in the 1990s, which propelled her into leadership roles. 

“Opportunities have opened up by circumstance over the years,” she said. “I’ve worked hard, made connections, and trusted the process.”  

Her first step into real estate was with Ray White in the early 2000s, which came after working as a director for a company that facilitated utility connections for homeowners.  

Ms Pennell joined Barry Plant as a chief operating officer in late 2022 before being promoted to chief executive in 2023.  

Time for reinvention  

Ms Pennell joined Barry Plant at a pivotal time for the business.  

Barry Plant has been a respected real estate brand across Melbourne and Victoria since 1979, but its longevity also primed it for reinvention.  

The new chief executive and her team set about on a three-year plan to refresh the legacy brand, while staying true to its values. 

Over the past two years, the team has worked on modernising technology, improving business processes and compliance, refining the brand, enhancing the customer experience, and more.  

“This year is all about bringing new people and offices into our brand,” she said. 

For Ms Pennell, there is more to the work than the numbers, it’s also been about integrity and values.  

Ms Pennell speaking at an International Women’s Day event. Picture: Supplied

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“I want to elevate trust in the real estate industry,” she said. 

“Our brand is very trusted by consumers already, but I think there is more work to be done.”  

Leading with heart 

Becoming a chief executive has been a learning curve for Ms Pennell, but she has also seen it as a satisfying journey. 

“There’s no rulebook,” she said. “You’re entrusted with the responsibility of the business and all the people in it.”  

“People think CEO roles are glamourous, but I feel the gravity of it every day.”  

One of the highlights of the leadership role has been helping those around her develop their skills and careers.  

Mr Pennell has been a trailblazer for women in leadership roles in real estate, which has been a traditionally male-dominated industry.  

“I didn’t realise how much my position would inspire other women until I started hearing it directly,” she said. 

Ms Pennell joined Barry Plant in 2022 before being promoted to chief executive in 2023. Picture: Supplied

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“It’s not necessarily about me, it’s the fact that a woman became a CEO.”  

Finding balance 

Outside of work, Ms Pennell takes time out by spending time with her family, singing and gardening.  

“My family and friends are really important to me,” she said.  

“It’s really important have a good support network and to give as much as you receive, so that’s a huge priority for me.” 

Singing and music have been lifelong passions for Ms Pennell, who has been performing since she was 17.

She still performs and holds a residency in Sydney that she plays every few months.  

“I’m a human jukebox, I play whatever the crowd wants to hear,” she said. 

“I didn’t want to be a rock star or anything like that – I just love to perform and lift the mood of the crowd.”  

Out of the office, Ms Pennell likes to spend time with her family, sing, meditate and garden. Picture: supplied

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There is also gardening, which Ms Pennell approaches as a way to be more present in the moment. 

She has grown all kinds of things, including corn, potatoes, cucumbers, squash, lettuce, and other fresh produce.  

But it’s the act of tending to plants, watching them grow, and harvesting them that brings her a strong sense of satisfaction, she said.  

“It’s my way of switching off from the noise and just being present,” she said.  

For someone who spends her days steering a real estate network spanning more than 60 offices, her personal passions keep her steady, resilient and ever-growing. 

Remaining focused and forward-looking will be key, as Ms Pennell shepherds the Barry Plant business into its next chapter.

And as Barry Plant goes from strength to strength, it seems that the work Ms Pennell and her team have done is producing results.