Helen Louri was born in Athens. She studied at the Athens University of Economics and Business, (B.Sc Econ), London School of Economics (M.Sc. Econ) and University of Oxford (D.Phil. Econ). 

She is professor at the Department of Economics of the Athens University of Economics and Business and has been the chair of the Department since November 2015. Her research interests are in the areas of Industrial Organization, Foreign Direct Investment and Finance.

She was deputy governor of the Bank of Greece (2008-2014) responsible for monetary policy, bank resolution, the national mint and cash management. She was also president of the Hellenic Deposit Guarantee Fund and served as member of the International Relations Committee of the ECB. 

Currently she is a board member of IOBE and ELIAMEP and chairs the Bank of Greece Cultural Centre Advisory Committee. She is also an alternate member of the Appeal Panel of the Single Resolution Board of European banks in Brussels.