Biography

Nicholas Papanicolaou was born in Athens, Greece. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and a Master’s degree from Columbia University School of Business. He has enjoyed an active business career as a ship owner and former controlling shareholder and chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda Holdings Ltd., U.K.

In 2002, he co-founded with Valdimir Yakunin of Russia and J.C. Kapur of India the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations,” an NGO registered in Vienna, Austria (www.wpfdc.com). The WPF brings together seven hundred delegates from more than sixty different countries for four days every year on the island of Rhodes in Greece to openly discuss religious and cultural differences.

WPF delegates have included the former prime ministers of India, Algeria, the Czech Republic, Austria, the former Presidents of Lithuania, Bangladesh, Khatami of Iran, Slovakia, Armenia, yemen, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestine Authority,and many other dignitaries,arch- bishops of the Orthodox Church, Cardinals, Ayatollah Ali Tashkiri of Iran, Chief Rabbis and Chief Muftis.

Mr. Papanicolaou is the worldwide leader of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem—The Ecumenical Order. This organization is an Order of Knighthood which is engaged in worldwide charity. Over the last three years, this Order has contributed more than $60 million in medicines and supplies to needy countries, including countries with large Muslim populations such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Liberia, and the Philippines. The Order speaks out when Christians are discriminated against because of their religion.

He has been honored with the grand cross of St. Andrew the First Called of Russia for his work on the dialogue of civilizations, the grand cross of Saint John of Jerusalem, the grand cross of the Imperial Spanish Order of Carlos V, and the gold star of the National Rescue Service of the Ukraine, for his humanitarian work.