Biography

Thomas Goorden (born in 1978) is a Belgian investigative journalist, public speaker and writer. His work usually sits where environmental reporting and civic accountability meet.

Background

First period

After a year as an exchange student in the USA (1996-1997), he studied physics at the University of Antwerp, followed by almost a decade in software development and architecture. By 2005-2006, he was already designing large software architectures for several big companies and governmental administrations, as well as teaching programming/database classes.

This was complemented with training and experience in theatre, short films (writing, directing) and philosophy, combined with extensive experience in using those tools for the benefit of disadvantaged children and youth.

Second period

In 2008, he founded a small creative production agency where he would combine all of these “other” skills and interests. An early example is the documentary De Strip Hertekend, which was broadcast on national Belgian television in 2009. After renaming to LEF, the company refocused on education, inclusion, sustainability and public participation.

Interest in civic matters and environmental concerns, made him pursue these topics professionally as well, (re)incorporating his background in science. Notable examples are co-authorship in a Belgian study on the use of statins in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (2020) and the one on the mathematical properties of debt-based money (2021).

This was complemented by volunteer work in various fields, including public participation in politics, air pollution, disadvantaged youth and sailing with disabled people. A notable example, the Burgerraad initiative, is discussed in this 2017 interview with Zwijgen is geen optie (“Silence is not an option”).

The Belgian PFAS case

In 2021, he disclosed a massive cover-up regarding chemical pollution from 3M Belgium, affecting one of the largest road infrastructure works in Belgium in recent decades. This story was partially covered in this Bloomberg report and many other news outlets. His investigations triggered a parliamentary investigation and ultimately the shut-down of 3M's PFAS production in Belgium. In a coalition with Greenpeace and local NGO Grondrecht, he won several cases at the Belgian Council of State, definitively proving the illegality of the governments approach to the PFAS pollution at 3M.

These events were also described in his first book, “Alles Komt Goed” (“Everything Will Be Well”), published by EPO in 2022.

Third and current period

Since October 2024, he has started working as a full-time investigative journalist, registered as a professional journalist under member number NS4510 with the Flemish journalistic society VVJ.

His reporting often moves between climate policy, industrial and chemical pollution, human rights and the politics of regulation. He is at his best when a story needs patient (and often complicated) research, clear language and a willingness to ask difficult questions.

In September 2026, he won the IJ4EU Impact Award together with an international team of freelancers.