Get to know F&S: Catherine Thorn

Sustainability & Energy Management Director Catherine Thorn’s career, from her experience in the energy sector, to her leadership on Project Leap, has always been about doing work that aligns with her values.

Sustainability has been a lifelong passion for Catherine Thorn. With degrees in both engineering and business, Thorn had no doubts about where she wanted to contribute her expertise. “I’ve always cared deeply about climate change, and that conviction has only gotten stronger as time goes on.”  

As director of sustainability and energy management, Thorn oversees tri-campus sustainability projects with a focus on making the University of Toronto St. George campus climate positive by 2050. This means going beyond zero carbon emissions through decarbonization, renewable energy, sustainable building standards and other technologies.

A key focus of her role is Project Leap, the university’s first big step toward becoming climate positive. The aim of Project Leap is to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2027 through decarbonization efforts and transforming how we heat and cool the campus. This includes deep energy retrofits, phasing out natural gas in favour of electric heating, and connecting the largest urban geoexchange network in Canada to the larger district energy network. 

The geoexchange and deep energy retrofits will enable U of T to capture and store heat for use in the colder months during the summer, and capture and store cooling in the winter for use in the summer.

“We’ve got Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system, and it uses technology pioneered right here at U of T. Meeting our targets will already be a huge achievement, but what’s more is that thanks to Project Leap, we are set to meet U of T and national 2030 carbon reduction targets ahead of schedule.” 

Joining Facilities & Services last September, what stands out to Thorn is how sustainability values are embedded as a driving force at U of T. Indeed, Thorn serves on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability, and co-chairs the Operations sub-committee, which is aimed at fostering collaboration between academia and operations to integrate sustainability in the university. 

One of Thorn’s goals is to address indirect emissions through programs such as sustainable procurement and in-house carbon reduction projects that offset emissions from university-funded air travel. Another priority is looking beyond carbon reduction toward climate resiliency–ensuring we are prepared for, and able to respond to, extreme climate events. In addition to environmental sustainability, Thorn is passionate about social sustainability and works with CECCS and colleagues across the university to enhance social equity and inclusion.

What Thorn enjoys most about her job is her team, whose genuine care and desire to do good inspire her own ambitions. “Collaborating with others makes great things happen. Sometimes the things you thought weren’t possible are possible. That’s what excites me about my job and what drew me to the university in the first place.” 

Outside of work, Thorn enjoys playing pickleball, cycling along the waterfront and cracking jokes with her daughter.