“Toronto is filled with incredibly talented people”
This week the Changemaker limelight belongs to Chloe D’Agostini, Head of Brand & Comms, who’s been putting Toronto Climate Week in the limelight since Day 1. As Founder and Strategic Director of Versalles Creative, Chloe shapes the identities and stories behind innovative brands and also helps them secure coverage in top publications such as WSJ, CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, BBC, among others.
Q: Where did your sustainability journey begin?
A: Growing up in Canada, the best parts of my childhood happened outside — climbing 100-ft tall maple trees with my brother and our neighbourhood friends, skating on nearby ponds as soon as my dad said the ice was thick enough, jumping in piles of leaves in the fall, bonfires in the summer. The Canadian outdoors gave us an opportunity to live out a childhood that, looking back, feels almost like a storybook..
Because I was so immersed in my natural surroundings, I developed a deep sense of respect and appreciation for the natural world and the wildlife that was around me. Nature always felt like home, and because of that I’ve always felt a responsibility to take care of it in the same way it has taken care of me. I really do believe the way I was raised set the tone for everything that's since followed.
Photos: Scenes from a Canadian childhood
Q: What inspired you to launch Versalles Creative?
A: I started Versalles Creative almost six years ago, when I noticed there was a white space for PR and branding agencies that worked at the intersection of sustainability, real-world technologies, and impact. I studied biology and chemistry in university, and since I had a scientific background, I found myself gravitating towards this new wave of companies that were making science and the environment “cool.”
I saw an opportunity to take these companies — seaweed-based packaging brands, weather technology companies, circular economy businesses — and turn what may have traditionally been a little lacklustre into a brand that makes people curious and want to engage with it. That really was the whole point: to take ideas that were technically or scientifically complex and distill them into captivating narratives, so that people could understand the value and see the relevance in their own lives.
I've also been obsessed with the art of storytelling for as long as I can remember. National Geographic has always been the ultimate inspiration, and that level of masterful storytelling has stuck with me since I was young. I suppose Versalles is my version of telling stories that matter.
Q: What excites you most about elevating sustainability and climate-focused brands and stories?
A: I learn an incredible amount from the clients and brands I work with. Through their work, I'm constantly being introduced to solutions and ideas I never knew existed, and that sense of discovery never gets old. There's also something encouraging about knowing the work you contribute to is going to make a larger impact. I find that when you help a brand discover its voice, you’re essentially helping an important idea reach the people it needs to. And with any brand, storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can use.
Q: How did you get involved with Toronto Climate Week?
A: Becky [Park Romanovsky] and I previously co-founded Climate North together, so we were very familiar with the growing “climate” scene in Toronto. After a few years of building that non-profit, Becky said that she wanted to launch climate week and I thought, why not?
Toronto is filled with incredibly talented people who are frankly under-recognized on a global scale. I felt confident we could help change that. Beyond the mission, I'll always say yes to building something with people I genuinely admire. So once we decided to go for it, we hit the ground running, rallied an incredible team around the same mission, and got to work. It still astounds me how much this team has accomplished in just a year.
Photo: Chloe moderating a Climate North panel
Q: What are you most looking forward to at Toronto Climate Week 2026?
A: Last year when we launched, TOCW happened over three days. This year we’re back for a full week, so I’m excited to experience a larger selection of flagship and community events. I love the concept of a decentralized week because people have an opportunity to host events based on their own vision and that means every year will offer something new.
TOCW gives you a sample platter of all that this city has to offer, under one umbrella, and the “choose your own adventure” style creates an ideal setting for meeting new people and reconnecting with familiar faces. This year will be no different.