About

Hello! I’m Koen Timmers. I'm the director of TAG, a non-profit working on climate education. I have been in education for 20 years and was announced to be one of the top 10 teachers globally by Bill Gates.
I'm an author and keynote speaker.

  • Master of Technology Enhanced Learning, Sheffied-Hallam University [UK]
  • Director TAG Inc. [USA]
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
  • Global Teacher Prize top 10 2018
  • Member national karate team 2000-2010. 5th dan
  • Featured in documentary "Heroes for the Planet"
  • Ashoka fellow

Impact

Kakuma Project

250,000 people reached

I built 2 schools in Kakuma Refugee Camp with DMOA architects. Featured in "Heroes for the Planet" Netflix documentary. Partnership with UNHCR.
>> Discover

Climate Action Project

3,400,000 students reached

Largest climate education initiative globally. Run by TAG - Accredited by UNHCR.
>> Discover

Lab Schools Tanzania

50,000 people reached

I built two schools in Tanzania in partnership with Jane Goodall Institute.
>> Discover

Innovation Project

50,000 people reached

Project launched in 2018 aiming to use innovation and technology for good.
>> Discover

Testimonials

I salute Koen for as his labs spread far and wide he will be changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. Empowering them and giving them hope for the future

Jane Goodall English primatologist and anthropologist

Koen is doing a phenomenal work for education

Alexander De Croo Prime Minister Belgium

I applaud the work of the Kakuma project to offer free education online. This is so important in the quest to achieve education for all.

Helen Clark ormer Prime Minister of New Zealand and former UNDP Administrator

Supporters

Charlize Theron
Actress
Koning en Koningin
van België
Al Gore
Voormalig Vice President VS
Lewis Hamilton
F1 racepiloot
Dr. Jane Goodall
Primatoloog
T. Egerton & N. Hoult
Acteurs
Tony Blair
Voormalig premier VK
Julia Gillard
Voormalig Premier Nieuw Zeeland
Priyanka Chopra
Actrice
Juan Manuel Santos
President Colombia
Julius Maada Bio
President Sierra Leone
Vladimir Klitschko
Wereldkampioen boksen
Alexander De Croo
Premier België
Irina Bokova
Voormalig directeur UNESCO
Trevor Noah
Comedian
Gina Torres
Actrice
Prinses Marie-Esméralda van Belgium
Dr. Amina Mohamed
Minister Onderwijs Kenia
Dr. Sabri Saidam
Minister Onderwijs Palestina
Rosemary Serinde
Minister Onderwijs Oeganda
Esteban Bullrich
Minister Onderwijs Argentinië
Sunny Varkey
Varkey Foundation
Dr. Andreas Schleicher
OECD

I worked closely with

News

Check Koen's TEDx talk.



Kakuma project now covered by Portuguese textbook

We got our UN accreditation

In 2023 TAG got its UN accreditation, next to the UN Environment Programme we had earlier.

Contract Department of Education, NYC

This allows us to bring climate education to schools in New York and train teachers.

Netflix Documentary "Heroes for the Planet" about to be released

When we built our schools in Kakuma, a Hollywood crew covered the project and turned it into a documentary. Directed by Kief Davidson, an Academy Award® and Emmy nominated director.
kiefdavidson.com/film-tv/heroes-for-the-planet

Bill Gates announced Koen as one of the best teacher in the world

As part of the Global Teacher Prize, Mr. Gates announced the 10 best teachers globally.

Prince William addresses our audience during our Climate Action Day

Every year we launch Climate Action Day, a live online and free event. This year we hosted Prince William among other inspiring speakers.
climateactionday.net
More news


Press & Books

Our impact was covered by newspapers, magazines, blogs, podcasts, radio and television stations across more than 10 countries including BBC radio; Belgian, French, Kenyan, Bulgarian, Argentinian, Candian, Indian, Spanish, Dutch, Russian and Swedish media.

VRT nws | Belgium | 2018
VRT journaal - Global Teacher Prize BBC radio | UK | 2018
Interview BBC radio Standaard | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - De Standaard NTV | Kenya | 2018
Television Kenya Radio2 | Belgium | 2019
Fellow Royal Society of Arts - Radio2 TV Karrewiet | Belgium | 2018
Jane Goodall Koen Timmers - Ketnet Karrewiet HBVL | Belgium | 2023
Het Belang van Limburg AD | Netherlands | 2018
Algemeen Dagblad HBVL | Belgium | 2018
Het Belang van Limburg TVL | Belgium | 2018
TV Limburg - Global Teacher Prize Radio 1 | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Radio1 De Morgen | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - De Morgen TV live | Abu Dhabi | 2018
Live Interview Abu Dhabi TV BTN1 | Bulgaria | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Bulgarian television station BTN1 Nieuwsblad | Belgium | 2019
Nieuwsblad - FRSA Flanders Today | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Flanders Today HBVL | Belgium | 2018
Kakuma project - Het Belang Van Limburg Microsoft Blog | USA | 2018
Microsoft Education Educator Spotlight NRClive | Netherlands | 2018
NRClive La Libre | 2018
NRClive Nieuwsblad | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Nieuwsblad Brainfeed | India | 2018
Human Differences project - Brainfeed Flanders Today | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Flanders Today
Knack | Belgium | 2018
Knack - Global Teacher Prize
VTM journaal | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - VTM TVL | Belgium | 2018
Jane Goodall Koen Timmers - TVL VRT | Belgium | 2018
Jane Goodall Koen Timmers - VRT De Standaard | Belgium | 2023
Het Belang van Limburg radio WBHM | USA | 2018
Interview radio Alabama USA Revista Innovamos | Spain | 2018
Innovamos Spain Didactief online | Netherland | 2018
Didactief magazine Rima Comunicacion Institucional | Argentina | 2018
Argentinian magazine France 2 | France | 2018
Television France2 Radio 2 | Belgium | 2019
Radio2 in Dubai TVL | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - TVL Teach Middle East | United Arab Emirates | 2018
Teach Middle East Flanderstoday | Belgium | 2017
Flanders Today Nieuwsblad | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Nieuwsblad Q-music | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Q-music Vlorha | Belgium | 2018
Vlorha TV | Canada | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Canadian tv HBVL | Belgium | 2017
Global Teacher Prize - Het Belang van Limburg De Morgen | Belgium | 2017
Climate Action project - De Morgen HBVL | Belgium | 2018
Human Differences project - Het Belang Van Limburg De Standaard | Belgium | 2018
Education to African kids De Standaard | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - De Standaard Brainfeed | India | 2018
Human Differences project - Brainfeed
De Morgen | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Humo Humo | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Humo Radio2 | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Humo Mel FM | Russia | 2018
Mel FM Russia HBVL | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Humo TV | Brazil | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Brazil TVL | Belgium | 2019
Fellowship Royal Society Arts - TVL National Geographic | USA | 2018
National Geographic TV | South Africa | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - South African tv Wicked Ideas | Canada | 2018
WickedIdeas HLN | Belgium | 2018
blabla TVL | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - TVL VRT Nws | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - VRT Knack | Belgium | 2017
Knack Radio2 | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Radio 2 HBVL | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - HBVL Radio 2 | Belgium | 2019
Radio2 in Dubai National Geographic | USA | 2018
National Geographic - Kakuma project Radio1 | Belgium | 2018
Jane Goodall Koen Timmers - Radio1 De Ochtend TVL | Belgium | 2018
TVL GTP Knack | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Knack HBVL | Belgium | 2019
Het Belang van Limburg Rotary magazine | Belgium Luxemburg | 2018
Rotary Magazine Kerk en Leven | Belgium | 2017
Global Teacher Prize - Kerk en Leven Metro | Belgium | 2018
Global Teacher Prize - Metro Magazine | Sweden | 2018
Human Differences project - Swedish magazine

Books

Koen's work was featured in:

     

Keynotes

Koen speaks about technology and sustainability within education.

Keynote EdCrunch, Moscow
November 2018

Edcrunch Moscow 2018

"In less than an hour Koen Timmers managed to describe the variety of ways of integrating social media in learning process, which was incredibly helpful! His presentation has really opened a new world to me." Erna Rudenko [Russia]

Debate GESF, Dubai
April 2018

Global Education and Skills Forum Dubai 2018

European Commission
June 2018

Klasse "e;Leerkracht van de Toekomst"e;
Mar 2019

Van In
Nov 2018

"Het was enorm boeiend! Veel stof tot nadenken en ... actie!" Tom Morel [Belgium]

Microsoft EDU Day, Brussels
Oct 2018

Microsoft EDU Day

ICTdag, Leuven
March 2018

ICTdag 2018 Leuven

Guest Lecture, VUB University Brussels
December 2017

VUB Brussels

Teach for Belgium, Brussels
March 2017

Teach for Belgium 2017

European Parliament
February 2019

Meesterlijk lesgeven, Utrecht
November 2018

"Ik begrijp waarom Koen Timmers Global teacher 2018 is geworden. In een half uur tijd heeft hij mij helemaal geïnspireerd tot nieuwe inzichten en ideeën en wil ik deze delen met mijn beroepsgenoten zodat ook zij zijn activiteiten kunnen uitvoeren om zo de hele wereld te bereiken!" Jacqueline 't Hart [Netherlands]

NRC live, Rotterdam
October 2018

"Ander, interessant perspectief op onderwijs ... én doorpakken. Mooie combi." Ton Leeggangers [Netherlands]

Masterclass GESF, Dubai
April 2018

Masterclass GESF Dubai 2018

Jane Goodall event
March 2019

GESF, Dubai
March 2019

Book launch GESF, Dubai
April 2018

Book Launch 2018 Dubai

Lecture, VUB University Brussels
June 2017

VUB Brussels

E2, Toronto
April 2017

E2 Toronto

GESF, Dubai
April 2017

GESF Dubai 2017

NNSTOY, Washington D.C.
July 2017

NNSTOY Washington DC 2017

"Koen Timmers was dynamic, engaging, and helped each of us in the room see concrete ways to make education relevant for all children." Mike Soskil [USA]

QUDWA, Abu Dhabi
October 2017

QUDWA Abu Dhabi 2017

EduNext Brussels
February 2019

EduNext Koen Timmers 2019

GESF, Dubai
March 2019

MTGS, India
July 2017

MTGS India 2016

Mesa, Austria
October 2016

Mesa Vienna 2016

OVSG, Brussels
June 2018

OVSG Brussel

Katholiek onderwijs, Eindhoven
Feb 2019

Katholiek onderwijs

Kleur bekennen
Oct 2018

Kleur bekennen

Microsoft, Brussels
December 2016

Microsoft 2017

Hire Koen