Kyrstie Nolan Joins Barry Plant as Head of Operations

High-profile executive Kyrstie Nolan joined Barry Plant as Head of Operations at a pivotal moment for the industry, stepping into the business as anti-money laundering reform became one of the sector’s biggest priorities. For Nolan, the move was about more than a new role. It is about joining a business whose values align with her own while helping guide the network through major legislative change.

At the centre of Nolan’s early focus is Barry Plant’s response to the new AML legislation, one of the most significant compliance changes to affect the property sector in years. She is already playing a key role in shaping that response, with a clear focus on making the transition practical, streamlined and well supported for franchisees.

“We recently announced a network-wide partnership with Australian compliance platform My Databoss,” Nolan says. “Rather than leaving franchisees to interpret the legislation, compare providers and build systems from scratch, HQ has taken responsibility for sourcing and implementing a best-practice solution across the group. The project team, including an AML-experienced lawyer and technology experts, has spent months in the lead-up to the launch, reviewing all possibilities to find the best solution for the group.”

“We’ve also built AML support directly into our existing Support Desk. We’ll have someone from My Databoss working within that team as an extension of the support we already provide, which is an incredible level of backing for our franchisees.

“A lot of the real estate sector is still underprepared for the changes taking effect on 1 July 2026, but Barry Plant is tackling this major legislative shift head-on. Alongside that support, we’re launching an AML bootcamp training series for our compliance officers and agents to make sure everyone feels not just confident, but compliant.”

It is a major project, but Nolan’s career has long been built around the operational side of real estate, navigating its many moving parts and helping businesses run more effectively behind the scenes. Now, with 14 years of experience spanning administration through to senior operations roles in a top-three national network, her journey into the industry began in a way she describes very simply:

“I fell into real estate straight after high school.”

University was never part of the plan, but she knew she wanted to keep learning. While working at a winery in Wangaratta, she completed her agent’s representative course and soon after stepped into an administration role at a local office.

“I didn’t have some big plan,” she says. “I just knew I wanted to do something. Because Wangaratta is such a small town, my first boss was a family friend, and I used to babysit his five kids. When an administration role came up at his office, I threw my hat in the ring.”

That first opportunity became the foundation for a career in operations. Over five years, her role expanded far beyond reception and into office management, trust accounting and leadership, giving her broad experience at the coalface of the business.

Her next move was a significant one, relocating to Melbourne to take on the role of Business Operations Manager for Victoria at a major real estate network’s Head Office. It was a career leap that challenged her both personally and professionally.

“Honestly, it was terrifying,” Nolan says. “I was only about 22, a country girl from Wangaratta with very little exposure to that kind of corporate environment, so it was a real culture shock. I had always lived at home with my family, so moving three hours away was a big step in itself, let alone stepping into a role like that.”

She speaks openly about the self-doubt that came with that transition.

“I had imposter syndrome big time,” she says. “At times, I felt like I had very little to offer and worried I was just being seen as a young kid from the country.”

Over time, though, experience and stronger relationships built her confidence and helped clarify where her strengths lay.

A turning point came when she began working with now Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell, whom Nolan credits with helping her see a much bigger future in the industry.

“She saw something in me that no one else had seen and, honestly, if it were not for her, I would not be in a leadership role today,” Nolan says. “She took me out of the role I was in and created a position that had never existed before, Head of Operations for Australia.”

“We invested a lot of time and energy in strengthening the operations team, and she helped me realise that real estate is not just about sales or property management. There is this whole operational space in between, and that is where I found my passion,” she says.

That passion made Barry Plant an appealing next step. While Pennell played an important role in pitching the move, Nolan says it was a deeply considered decision.

“I had been approached several times over the years by different brands, but I wanted to make sure that if I was going to make a change, it would be with a brand I trusted to support me and with strong values that genuinely aligned with my own,” she says.

“Barry Plant stood out in its own right. It is a strong brand with exceptional leadership, a close-knit culture, and commitment to innovation and operational process.”

She says the network’s Victorian-only footprint was another major drawcard, allowing for less travel, more direct engagement with offices and a sharper local focus. Looking ahead, Nolan’s ambitions stretch well beyond AML.

“AML is my baby at the moment, but I am also really passionate about shining a light on operational leaders across the network,” she says. “My goal is to make Barry Plant the best place to work not just for sales agents and property managers, but for people in operations too.”

CEO Lisa Pennell said when the opportunity came up for a new hire in the group’s executive team, appointing Kyrstie was an easy decision.

“Having worked with Kyrstie before, I knew exactly what we’d be getting - a self-motivated, intelligent, strategic thinker and a great people leader who cares as much about culture as I do. Already in the short time Kyrstie has been with the Barry Plant Group, she’s become a valued member of the HQ team, grabbing a hold of our AML project and connecting with our directors and network seamlessly.”

“I could not be happier to be working alongside Kyrstie once again and seeing her continue to develop her career in this special group. As I don’t doubt our directors are already starting to see, we are very fortunate to have her on the journey!”

At a time of significant industry change, Kyrstie Nolan brings honesty, humility and deep operational expertise to Barry Plant. Just as importantly, she brings a clear sense of purpose, helping the network prepare for a new compliance era while championing the people who keep the business running every day.