Football legends, sales stars, media gurus and an industry-first app headlined Barry Plant’s Kickstart 2026 as the real estate network delivered a powerful reset for the year ahead.
Sales agents, property managers and business leaders from across the network gathered at Sofitel Melbourne for one of the year’s standout events on the Barry Plant calendar; a day defined by clarity, capability and connection.
CEO Lisa Pennell opened the event by reinforcing Barry Plant’s commitment to innovation, culture and performance, setting the tone for a day focused on raising standards across every part of the business.
“The message to the network this year was clear: excellence is a choice, and 2026 will belong to those prepared to do the work, the right way,” said Pennell.
“We want Barry Plant to be the trusted brand in real estate, and everything we do across the network in 2026 should be in service of that goal.”
The morning keynote belonged to AFL legend Joel Selwood, who delivered an inspiring address titled Doing the Hard Work First.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders in modern football and the longest-serving captain in AFL history, Selwood shared lessons from his 16-year career with the Geelong Football Club.
Drawing on premiership success, record-breaking captaincy and meticulous preparation, he challenged attendees to prioritise discipline over motivation and long-term relationships over short-term wins.
His message resonated deeply with a room of high performers – success is built in the unseen hours, not the spotlight moments.
“Joel truly captivated the room with his humble yet powerful
keynote on leadership. His presentation gave real insight into the discipline and hard work behind on-field success,” said Pennell.
“As a non-sports person, I’ll admit the football chat went straight over my head,” she laughed, “but I’m thrilled the network got so much out of it!”
Innovation remained a central theme throughout the event, with the highly anticipated launch of the new Barry Plant App commanding significant attention.
Unveiled as a first-of-its-kind platform designed exclusively to give property vendors a clearer, simpler and more transparent view of their sales campaign, the app represents a major leap forward in client experience and reporting.
Instead of relying on multiple PDF reports or waiting for emails, vendors can now access key campaign information directly from their mobile devices.
This includes daily updated insights into buyer interest, enquiries, inspection feedback and overall campaign performance – all in one secure, easy-to-use interface.
Barry Plant Digital Experience Manager Emma Smith explained the benefits of the app.
“Version 1 of the Barry Plant app brings all key sales campaign metrics into one place, allowing vendors to track their property’s progress from the palm of their hand. It removes the need for multiple reports and PDFs, offering an intuitive experience where clients can view a clear performance snapshot and dive deeper into the details whenever they choose,” said Smith.
Smith said the app’s greatest advantage is how it empowers agents to have informed, transparent, and data-driven conversations with their clients.
“With clients able to effortlessly track their property’s campaign, agents can set realistic expectations based on actual data, showing levels of buyer interest, feedback and price insights, and ensuring both clients and agents are always on the same page,” said Smith.
“No one else in the marketplace is offering this level of visibility across a sales campaign.”
Following a buzzing networking lunch, the event split into specialised breakout sessions to provide tailored insights for both sales and property management professionals.
In the Sales Breakout, Chris Hill delivered Accountability = Results, outlining a practical framework for growth and sustainable success.
With a sharp focus on measurable action and transparent performance, he gave agents clear, actionable strategies to strengthen their market position.
By the end of the day, his session had become an unexpected standout.
“What stunned us in the aftermath of Kickstart was that even though we had AFL legend Joel Selwood deliver a powerful keynote address, Chris Hill’s session was the highest-rated of the entire event in our feedback,” said CEO Lisa Pennell.
“Chris left Barry Plant HQ in 2024 to get back on the field and lead his own real estate business, along with three business partners. In just twelve months, the team has transformed Warragul from around one to two per cent market share into the fourth most dominant agency in the area at approximately 8.6%. In Drouin, the office moved from number four to number one, capturing more than 14% market share.”
“Our network was clearly eager to hear exactly how he achieved that level of growth. Joel Selwood may have the premierships, but at Kickstart, it was homegrown Barry Plant talent that stole the show!” Pennell laughed.
Media coach Imogen Callister energised the audience with Consistency over Clout, urging agents to build digital authority through discipline, authenticity and consistent long-term brand building rather than chasing short-term attention.
Barry Plant Top 30 Agent Caleb Venneri reinforced the value of preparation in Practice Makes Perfect, introducing AI voice-training platform Rolio to help agents sharpen listing and negotiation skills. James Tostevin then shared insights from nearly four decades in the industry in Playing the Long Game, emphasising legacy over transactions before the announcement of the 2026 Pinnacle Club.
In the Property Management Breakout, Michael Anania presented The Joy of Property Management, focusing on leadership, compliance and asset protection, while a panel featuring Claire Walker, Ashleigh Rhodes and Matthew Clarke highlighted the importance of communication, proactive service and delivering an experience worth sharing.
Across every session, a clear message emerged – discipline, consistency and long-term thinking separate good operators from great ones.
With renewed focus, upgraded tools including the new vendor app, and a shared commitment to excellence, Barry Plant is well-positioned to lead from the front in 2026.
