Adelaide-based buyer’s agency 28th Street Agency has achieved Certified B Corp™ status, placing it among a select global group of businesses recognised for meeting exceptionally high standards of ethics, transparency and impact. For the agency, it is an incredibly proud and deeply emotional milestone years in the making.
B Corp™ certification is awarded by the non-profit B Lab to companies that undergo rigorous independent assessment to demonstrate they balance profit with positive impact on their employees, communities and the environment. It verifies that a business meets globally recognised standards for transparency, accountability, and social and environmental responsibility.
The milestone positions the Norwood-based firm among a small group of ethical real estate agencies in Australia. This certification truly sets the agency apart within the property sector.
For CEO and Lead Buyer’s Agent Kerryn Brownson, the certification is formal recognition of a model she has wanted to build for years, one grounded in accountability, transparency, and genuine care for the people her agency works with.
“I think all businesses should give back. I think that’s really important and I wanted to be a leader in this space, and for others to follow.”
A key part of that commitment is the agency’s focus on improving access to property education and support for women.
Its EmpowerHER program helps women enter the property market by offering guidance on how to get into property in Australia, while each year the agency also provides pro-bono services to two women facing barriers to entry.
The business also supports Catherine House, which assists women experiencing housing insecurity in South Australia.
Through that partnership, the agency contributes to initiatives supporting women at different stages of the housing journey, from those experiencing homelessness through to those working towards financial independence and property ownership.
That commitment is deeply personal for Brownson, whose passion for property is tied not only to architecture and design, but also to the role secure housing can play in a woman’s life.
“If I can help more women get into property and into secure housing, that makes my heart sing.”
It is one of the reasons the certification meant so much when the confirmation finally arrived after months of work, audits, and verification.
“I think I cried when I got it.”
“It’s not just a status. It’s something that keeps us operating at a higher level every day, and because we’re audited, we have to keep improving and keep pushing forward. It’s not just a tick-box.”
The business recorded a verified B Impact Score of 116.3, well above the 80-point requirement. Brownson said that matters because it reflects how deeply those values are embedded in the day-to-day running of the agency.
“For our clients, it means unbiased advice. We don’t take referral fees or kickbacks. So if we recommend a property or even another professional, it’s because they’re the best, or it’s the best deal for the client. It’s not because we benefit in any way.”
For Brownson, that independence is central to what makes 28th Street Agency different, especially in an industry where conflicted incentives can too often shape outcomes.
“Everything that I do and say is not motivated by money. It’s motivated by the success for my customer.”
That clarity around who the agency works for is a major part of what 28th Street Agency wants clients to understand.
“You’ve always got to work out who’s paying who,” Brownson said. “I’m there to find the right property, guide where to invest, and secure it for them. I’m essentially a personal shopper for houses.”
The recent certification follows a period of growth for the agency, including its move to new offices on The Parade in Norwood in late 2025, reflecting increasing demand for more transparent buyer’s agent services in Adelaide and across South Australia.
“People are trusting us with the biggest amount of money, one of the biggest purchases of their life. And they know that they can trust us because we have to be accountable.”
The business has also received several industry accolades, but for Brownson, B Corp™ certification carries a different weight. It’s proof that a property business can grow while staying accountable to the people it serves.
In a high-stakes industry where trust matters as much as expertise, that is exactly the kind of business 28th Street Agency has been working to build all along.
Original Article By Glam Adelaide: Here
