North Melbourne Football Club has officially become Australia’s first B Corp Certified sporting organisation, marking a significant milestone for community impact through sport.

The club joins a movement of more than 750 B Corporations (B Corps) across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, including current club corporate partner Intrepid Travel, and other leading organisations such as Unilever Australia & New Zealand, R.M.Williams, Bank Australia and KMD Brands (Rip Curl, Odoz, Kathmandu).  

North Melbourne announced the news of its B Corp Certification at Assembly 2025, the regional B Corp gathering, held in Glenworth Valley on the NSW Central Coast on Monday night. 

B Corps are for-profit companies that are independently verified by B Lab for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The club embarked on its B Corp journey with guidance from senior leaders at Intrepid Travel, who joined North Melbourne as shorts sponsor earlier this year.

North Melbourne President, Dr Sonja Hood AM, said that becoming the first Australian sporting organisation to attain B Corp Certification is a testament to the club’s ongoing leadership in the sporting industry.

“North Melbourne has been built on breaking new ground and being first — whether it’s pioneering Friday night footy, being the first to exit pokies, or playing on Good Friday to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Now we’re the first Australian sporting club to achieve B Corp certification,” Dr Hood said. 

“Our club’s purpose is to be ‘champions on and off the field’ – that means building a culture of success with our football programs while having a positive impact in the community and the environment in which we operate.  

“We’re proud that our work in the community, our strong employment policies, and our commitment to operating ethically within a highly regulated industry has been formally recognised.   

“Critically, B Corp certification isn’t just recognition of our positive impact – it’s also an important tool in driving key commercial outcomes, and we look forward to collaborating with fellow B Corp organisations in Australia and the world.” 

 Andrew Davies, CEO of B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand, added: 

“North Melbourne Football Club’s certification is a landmark moment for the sporting sector in Australia. It shows what’s possible when an organisation embeds purpose into performance, and uses its platform to drive meaningful change. 

“We applaud North Melbourne for setting a powerful example and paving the way for others, proving that sport can be a powerful force for good.” 

About B Lab  

B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (AANZ) is part of B Lab, a global not-for-profit network working to build an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy that benefits people, communities, and the planet. 

B Lab is best known for certifying B Corporations (B Corps), which are for-profit companies that are independently verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. 

B Lab AANZ powers this movement locally by building awareness and connecting the community, and developing resources, events, and programs that help businesses measure and manage their impact. To date, there are more than 750 B Corps across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, employing over 56,000 people and generating over $27 billion AUD in revenue for the local economy.