Niki Goulandris (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Νίκη Γουλανδρή; 1925 – 9 February 2019[1]) was a Greek philanthropist[2] and an accomplished botanical painter.[3]
Goulandris helped illustrate several botanical books, such as Wild Flowers of Greece by C. Goulimis and W.T. Stearn, and Peonies of Greece by Stearn and P.H. Davies.
She was vice-president of the Goulandris Natural History Museum and Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, former deputy minister for Social Services (1974–75), former Secretary of State for health in Greece(1974), honorary deputy president of Hellenic Radio and Television (1975–80), and member of the World Commission on Culture and Development of UNESCO. She was winner of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Award in 1990, and in 1991 was named Woman of Europe by the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Movement.
Born Niki Kephala, she was married to Angelos Goulandris, of the wealthy ship-owning Goulandris family, with whom she established the Goulandris Natural History Museum in 1965.
After graduating from the German School of Athens, 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. She spoke French, German, and English fluently. She died on 9 February 2019 in Athens, aged 94.