“I’ve failed, rebuilt, and reimagined many times. I no longer chase perfection, but follow a compass of impact, integrity, and growth.”
Pete Poovanna (public name for Poovanna Cheppudira Thimmaiah) is a Canadian writer and sustainability strategist. He holds a PhD in engineering from Simon Fraser University and is a Queen Elizabeth II Advanced Scholar. His work focuses on sustainable mobility and climate strategy, and he publishes analysis and commentary on sustainability, climate policy, and innovation. He is the founder of Forest Bean, a biodiversity-focused, tech-enabled regenerative coffee enterprise connecting Indo-Pacific farmer cooperatives to global consumers. His writing has appeared in Policy Options, HuffPost Canada, and International Policy Digest.
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For most of my life, I’ve been driven by one question: How can we build a future that’s both prosperous and ethical where growth and integrity coexist?
That question has guided me from the rain-soaked coffee farms of Coorg, India, to leading clean energy initiatives across Canada. It’s shaped every choice I’ve made — in my career, my ventures, and my writing.
Today, I divide my time between two worlds that reflect my purpose:
I was born into a family that’s been growing coffee for generations. As a child, I learned that every bean carried a story of soil, shade, and people.
That sense of connection stayed with me, even as I pursued a PhD in Sustainable Energy and built a career far from the plantations. I spent years designing clean energy systems and leading climate programs, eventually helping drive Canada’s CleanBC transportation roadmap.
But over time, I realized something was missing. The work was impactful, yet impersonal. I wanted to reconnect with people’s purpose.
That’s how Forest Bean Coffee was born: not as a business idea, but as a homecoming. A way to bridge my heritage and my mission to show that sustainability isn’t just policy; it’s personal.
I write because stories move people in ways data alone never can.
Whether it’s exposing greenwashing, challenging workplace injustice, or reimagining leadership, my goal is to spark honest dialogue. Writing gives me clarity — and, I hope, gives others courage to act with integrity.
At its core, everything I do, from clean energy strategy to coffee entrepreneurship, is about one belief: progress without purpose isn’t progress at all.
Outside of work, you’ll find me on a tennis court, exploring coastal towns, or sharing a quiet coffee moment with my golden retriever, Novo, my loyal (and mischievous) companion who reminds me daily that joy is found in the simplest things.