Caroline Nolan

Caroline Nolan, M.Sc., GRP is a sustainable business, and media and marketing communications expert who has successfully run her own consulting business for over a decade.

Concerned about the unprecedented erosion of our natural systems, and a compelling desire to use her professional skills to proactively solve the sustainability challenge, Caroline travelled to Sweden in 2008 to pursue post-graduate studies with an emphasis on leveraging whole-systems thinking to solve complex sustainability challenges. There, she earned a Master’s of Science in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden – a program co-founded by The Natural Step founder, Dr. Karl Henrik-Robèrt (also one of her thesis advisors).

Upon her return to Toronto, Caroline founded ThinkSustain® Consulting, a boutique consultancy focused exclusively on helping organizations develop and implement strategies for environmental, social and economic sustainability through strategic planning, communications, marketing, media and stakeholder engagement.

As an Associate of The Natural Step Canada, Caroline also supports the organization’s efforts to transform Canadian businesses and communities using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) and other TNS capacity-building tools and processes.
Among Caroline’s long-term clients is Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a non-profit association for the green roof and wall industry. In January 2008, she led the successful relaunch of their quarterly magazine, the Living Architecture Monitor. Ever-fascinated with the fast-evolving living architecture industry, Caroline continues to serves as the magazine’s editor. She especially enjoys the opportunity to interview industry thought leaders from multiple disciplines on cutting-edge topics including urban agriculture, biophilic design, and the built environment and health.

Starting in late 2009, Caroline also worked extensively with RBC Royal Bank, most recently leading the development of an extensive marketing communications strategy to help their commercial business clients become more environmentally responsible and profitable. She oversaw the development of the content RBC’s Greening Your Business website which contains practical, insightful content on a range of sustainability topics including the 50-page comprehensive Greening Your Business: A Guide to Getting Started, which featured many insights and learning’s from The Natural Step experts. The site continues to grow with many other additions including a Shifting Markets, Shifting Mindsets: Creating Value through Cleaner & Greener Manufacturing, the product of collaboration between RBC and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) in association with ThinkSustain Consulting.

Caroline also holds a B.A.A. (Journalism) from Ryerson University (2003) and became an Accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) in 2010. ThinkSustain is a Member of the Canada Green Building Council and Caroline is working towards becoming a LEED Green Associate in 2011.