Farewell to Niki Goulandris President of The Goulandris Natural History Museum
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Niki Goulandris, President and co-founder of The Goulandris Natural History Museum, peacefully died in Kifissia on February 9, 2019, at the age of 94.
Niki Goulandris is internationally renowned for her efforts to protect the environment.
Niki Goulandris studied Political Science and Economics at the University of Athens and continued with post-graduate studies in Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Frankfurt under the philosophers Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer.
Her life has been devoted to the realization of her belief that the world needs new values, in order to achieve the necessary balance between man and society. Her message links ecological goals to ethical values.
She pioneered nature conservation in Greece. In 1964, with her husband Angelos Goulandris, they founded The Goulandris Natural History Museum. The Museum is currently an important center of ecological research and education, which has introduced hundreds of thousands of children to love and respect of nature.
Niki Goulandris was also an accomplished botanist painter; she painted hundreds of unique illustrations of Greek wildflowers.
Niki Goulandris has served her country from several other posts, including that of Deputy Minister of Social Services in the first democratic government, after the collapse of the 1967-1974 dictatorship, with a special mission to care for the 200,000 refugees from Cyprus. She was Vice-President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (1975-1981), Vice President of the Greek Tourism Organization (1989-1991), President of the Save the Children Association (1980- 2002), Member of the Greek delegation to the Rio Conference (1992) and Member of the Greek Delegation of the Johannesburg Conference (2003).
She maintained a wide network of international links and served in posts such as that of Member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian International Development Research Center (1992- 1995) and of the 12-member International Commission on Culture and Development, chaired by Mr J. Perez de Cuellar (1993-1996).
Niki Goulandris has received many distinctions in recognition of her work: Honorary distinction of the Academy of Athens, Member of the British Academy of Linnaeus, Member of the United Global Honorary List "Global 500", Woman of Europe in 1991, Honorary Doctor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Thessaly and the University of Uppsala, Associate member of the French Academy of Ethics and Political Science, Member of Academia Europea.
She has been awarded the grade of Commander of the Order of Phoenix by the Greek State, the Legion of Honneur (officier) and the Order of Honor by the Federal Republic of Germany.
Niki Goulandris’ funeral took place on February 12 in Kifissia, Athens.
Fali Vogiatzaki, Vice President