Meet the Team

Kristi Banister is the founder and Principal Consultant of Exceed People, bringing nearly two decades of experience across HR, workforce strategy and technical recruitment in some of Australia’s most complex industrial environments.

Her career spans mining, manufacturing, aviation, logistics, engineering and professional services, with senior roles at organisations such as Orica, Toll Group & Boeing. This blend of internal HR leadership and external consulting gives her a rare ability to understand business pressures from every angle - operational, cultural and commercial.

Kristi is known for her warm, grounded style and her ability to quickly build trust with leaders at every level. She brings a thoughtful, people‑first approach to recruitment and workforce planning, shaped by years of partnering with technical teams, frontline supervisors, executives and regional businesses.

Whether supporting clients with workforce strategy, organisational design, specialist recruitment or leadership coaching, Kristi’s focus is always the same: clarity, honesty and long‑term capability. She works discreetly, listens deeply and delivers solutions that are practical, tailored and built for real‑world environments.

Exceed People is built on her belief that strong teams start with strong relationships — and that the right people, in the right roles, can transform a business.