Akshay Sharma Appointed Barry Plant Head of Commercial and Finance

The appointment is a significant one for the Victorian real estate giant, marking the first time Barry Plant has brought a full-time executive into the role after previously operating with fractional finance leadership.

For CEO Lisa Pennell and the wider business, Sharma’s arrival represents an important investment in the future of the network, bringing deeper commercial capability at a time when market conditions are becoming increasingly shaped by economic uncertainty, policy reform and changing buyer sentiment.

For Sharma, the opportunity is clear.

“Where I see the greatest opportunity is in bringing a commercial lens to the business, offering an external perspective to both the organisation and the industry, and applying a fresh set of eyes from outside the real estate world to add real value,” said Sharma.

He believes the role will help ensure Barry Plant’s growth remains deliberate and sustainable.

“We’re not just focused on planting flags. We want people to join us who genuinely align with our cultural values, can deliver strong commercial outcomes and are in it with us for the long haul.”

Working closely with Barry Plant’s growth team, Sharma is already helping evaluate prospective franchise opportunities through a more rigorous commercial framework.

“Those conversations allow us to assess whether the opportunity is the right fit for both parties,” he said. “We want anyone joining the network to have a clear understanding of the level of investment involved and the time required to build a sustainable, successful business.”

It is exactly this blend of strategic discipline and long-term thinking that makes Sharma’s appointment such an important step for the business.

Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell highlighted the strategic significance of the appointment.

“With the creation of a full-time Head of Commercial & Finance role and Akshay’s recruitment, we have the dedicated leadership needed to identify key growth opportunities across both the network and individual offices through benchmarking and close collaboration with our directors,” said Pennell.

“We specifically went looking for someone who was highly experienced in franchising, rather than real estate, to help our business owners be more successful.”

“Akshay brings a wealth of experience and commercial expertise, and he is going to be instrumental in the continued success and growth of the Barry Plant network.”

His journey to Barry Plant began long before real estate entered the picture.

“My dad has a commerce degree, so he definitely influenced my interest in accounting and finance,” Sharma said.

“When I was in high school, I became really interested in business and finance-related subjects. I loved economics and accounting, and from there, finance just felt like the obvious direction.”

After completing a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting, Sharma launched his career with Australia Post through a full-time internship while completing his final year of university.

He remained with the organisation for more than a decade, completing his Chartered Accounting qualification while steadily rising through the ranks.

“I started on the ground floor as a junior analyst and worked my way up through the business from there,” he said.

From there, Sharma built broad expertise across financial accounting, enterprise reporting, forecasting and executive planning, supporting senior leadership and board-level decision-making.

He later moved into finance business partnering, managing a half-billion-dollar consumer products portfolio and working closely with operational leaders to drive growth and efficiency.

“Effective business partnering means treating their challenges as your own,” he said. “You’re aligned around shared goals, whether that’s driving revenue growth or improving efficiency through cost reduction.”

He then worked on major transformation programs across Australia Post’s national network, before leading commercial project management for the modernisation of the organisation’s 30-year-old point-of-sale platform.

After more than a decade at Australia Post, Sharma felt ready for a new challenge.

“I was becoming accustomed to the ways of working at Australia Post and wanted a fresh experience outside the organisation,” he said.

That opportunity came through AMES Australasia, where he stepped into a senior finance leadership role within a smaller, faster-moving business environment.

“In a smaller organisation, you have to wear a lot of different hats at the same time,” he said.

“You work much more closely with the CFO and leadership team, and you have the ability to influence and drive change in a way you often can’t within a very large organisation.”

The experience ultimately paved the way for his move into real estate, an industry he admits he had not seriously considered before.

“I probably hadn’t fully appreciated what the real estate industry could offer,” he said.

But after meeting Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell and the broader leadership team, he quickly saw the opportunity.

“I really gravitated towards the culture and leadership within the business. I don’t think that’s something you find everywhere in the real estate industry.”

Pennell, in particular, left a strong impression.

“I was especially inspired by Lisa’s leadership, just how dynamic, motivated and inspirational she is,” he said.

Several months into the role, Sharma says the transition has exceeded expectations.

“To be honest, I’ve loved every moment of it,” he said. “It’s been a fantastic journey so far and I’ve learned an enormous amount.”

Despite broader economic uncertainty, Sharma remains confident in the long-term strength of the property sector.

“History has shown that real estate remains a safe and secure long-term investment,” he said.

“While the industry will continue to evolve, the fundamentals remain very strong.”

For Barry Plant, Sharma’s appointment represents more than financial oversight. It signals a continued investment in commercial leadership, strategic capability and long-term growth as the network positions itself for its next chapter.