Our Core Team

Mehnaz Ansari

Co-Founder, AeroStratgiX | Global Trade & Infrastructure Leader | Aviation & Infrastructure Policy Expert

Mehnaz Ansari co-founded AeroStratgiX (ASX) to address the growing demand for leadership, capacity building, and policy-aligned education in the aviation and infrastructure sectors across South Asia. ASX was born out of a vision to empower institutions, governments, and industry leaders with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships needed to shape the region’s next phase of sustainable growth.

With over 25 years of experience in global trade, aviation policy, and infrastructure strategy, Mehnaz has played a transformative role in advancing U.S.-South Asia economic cooperation. As Senior Regional Representative for South Asia at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), she led the development of more than 150 infrastructure projects across eight countries—including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and others—unlocking billions in U.S. exports while fostering local impact.

She is widely recognised for leading five U.S.-India Aviation Summits and conceptualising the first U.S.-India Executive Management Program in Aviation. Through these efforts, Mehnaz has built enduring partnerships between government, academia, and industry. Her deep relationships with Indian regulators, multilateral agencies, airport operators, and global institutions underpin ASX’s mission and approach.

At ASX, Mehnaz brings this unique blend of policy insight, global connectivity, and execution expertise to deliver solutions in aviation education, regulatory alignment, executive training, and strategic consulting. Her work also spans smart cities, ports, inland waterways, energy, ICT, public procurement, and climate-aligned infrastructure.

A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership, she has served as Chairwoman of the Women in Aviation Leadership Initiative and was the Senior Vice President of Women in Aviation, India Chapter. She regularly delivers masterclasses for senior professionals through programs at IIMs, Haas School of Business, and S&P Global. Mehnaz is also a Senior Advisor-in-Residence with the LedBy Foundation, a Harvard-incubated platform advancing leadership among Indian Muslim women.

Through AeroStratgiX, Mehnaz is channeling her global experience into building platforms that connect global best practices with local execution—creating lasting value for South Asia’s aviation and infrastructure ecosystem.

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Sandeep Bahl

Co-Founder, AerostratgiX | Corporate Culture | Alliances & Partnerships & Organisation Transformation

Sandeep is an Independent Senior Advisor and is based in Asia. Mr. Bahl specializes in leading public and private companies, including those in the aviation, consumer goods and services industries. He partners with executive teams to achieve cultural transformation of organizations, build regulatory – governmental compliances, analyze and create market demand, develop and induct joint venture and alliances strategies, manage sales and operations to lead organizations for sustainable growth

Additionally, Sandeep serves as the Executive Program Director for US-India Aviation Cooperation Program, Lead Advisor for Asia Aviation Valuation and for Q&A Business Advisory. He is also a visiting professor of Global Marketing and Aviation Strategy for the Masters in Travel Administration program at China’s Fudan University. A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he is a diamond mentor for Global Women Connect and Orbit Accelerator for start-ups.

Sandeep's impressive position is a result of having over 30 years in managing businesses as well as consulting across the Asia Pacific region. He has held key leadership positions at numerous Airlines and related industries in leading market access and entry, organizing multi sales channels for revenue generation, executing marketing activities that drive brand awareness and inducting alliance partners.

Some examples include, leading Air New Zealand's business in Asia through restructuring overall operations and building joint ventures and alliances with Air China, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines to expand Air New Zealand's global footprint. Advising and implementing Red Ridge’s diversification of supply chain and entry into new markets. He was also instrumental in the successful merger between Northwest and Delta Air Lines in China and inducting Chinese

airlines to Delta’s global alliances and launch of Maldives Airlines and tourism product in Japan. He has also acted as Chairman of Board of Airline Representatives in China, Co-Chair of Committee of Economic Reforms for Aviation in China and International Advisory Chair for Travel Transport Industry Association of USA.

It is with no doubt he has one of the most diverse cultural background and understanding of multinational cooperation, having worked and led organizations from USA, India, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Maldives and Greater China region.

Sandeep received his MBA and post graduate degree from Oxford Brookes University in the U.K. and an undergraduate degree from the Institute of Hotel Management in New Delhi,India. He has also completed the China Managers Development Program from prestigious Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing and Executive Development Program from University of Technology in Sydney.

Our Expert Advisors

Building the Future of Aviation

Sundresh Sarup - Logistics Plus

Sundresh Sarup is the Managing Director of Logistics Plus India Pvt. Ltd., a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2013. With over three decades of experience in global logistics and supply chain management, he has been instrumental in expanding the company’s footprint across major Indian cities and establishing it as a trusted partner in international freight forwarding and project cargo logistics. Under his leadership, Logistics Plus India earned various certifications. He became actively involved in global aviation industry initiatives, including his role as Co-Chair of the U.S.-India Aviation Cooperation Program for 4 years. Known for his strategic vision, operational excellence, and advocacy for digital innovation, Sarup continues to drive growth and transformation in India’s logistics sector.

Capt. Poonam Gaur - XR Services

Capt. Poonam Gaur is a leading aviation consultant and entrepreneur with over 20 years of diverse, hands-on experience across commercial aviation, regional air connectivity, flight operations, and aviation infrastructure development. Her career is marked by a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic foresight, and an unrelenting passion for transforming the aviation landscape in India and beyond.

Poonam’s aviation journey began in the cabin as an air hostess, but her ambitions quickly took flight. She earned her Commercial Pilot Licenses from both the USA and India in 2009 and soon rose through the ranks—becoming Flight Operations Head at the Sanjay Kakade Group, followed by a pivotal role as Senior Associate for Flight Performance & Airline Operations at Martin Consulting LLC, Dubai. There, she led a pioneering Fuel Burn and Cost Optimisation Study for TAROM Romanian Air Transport, significantly improving operational efficiency.

In 2014, Poonam co-founded Air Taxi Services, spearheading India's regional connectivity movement. Her efforts brought air access to underserved towns and cities, directly supporting tourism, trade, and local economies. Her aviation business acumen extends to aircraft sales, charter auditing, and regulatory certifications (NSOP/AOP), making her a go-to expert for startups and legacy players alike.

In 2025, she introduced India’s first Microtower and Automated Traffic and Advisory System—a solar-powered, rapidly deployable airfield safety solution that delivers real-time weather and traffic updates at remote airstrips, heliports, and STOLports. This groundbreaking system reflects her deep understanding of operational gaps and her ability to engineer scalable, sustainable solutions tailored for India’s unique terrain.

Poonam also plays a strategic role in Greenfield airport projects, including the development of Karikal Airport in Puducherry. Her consultancy services span infrastructure planning, airstrip design, regulatory navigation, and operational readiness, helping government and private stakeholders turn vision into viable aviation projects.

Recognized for her trailblazing work and leadership, Poonam has received several prestigious awards, including:

- Female Entrepreneur of the Year, GTF Women Excellence Summit 2022
- Inspiring Women Entrepreneur, Global Triumph Foundation Women Entrepreneurship Summit 2023
- The Real Super Woman, Forever Star India Awards 2022
- Global Women Inspiration, I CAN Foundation 2022
- Honored by the President of India (2024) as one of the 50 Women Achievers in Indian Aviation
- Celebrated by Women in Aviation India as a Pioneer Woman in Aviation

An advocate for diversity in aviation, she mentors young professionals through her work with the Asia Foundation’s Women in STEM Program and serves as a thought leader in various aviation forums.

J. Spencer Dickerson - American Association of Airport Executives

Spencer Dickerson retired in December 2021 after serving 41 years at the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), including positions of Senior Executive Vice President for Global Operations and Executive Director of AAAE’s affiliated organization, the U.S. Contract Tower Association. His experience at AAAE including working with Members of the U.S. Congress/congressional staff and officials at the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, U.S. Departments of Commerce and State, and U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Dickerson was responsible for business development, training programs, conferences (domestic and international), FAA contract tower program issues and coordination of programs and activities with the AAAE Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Policy Review Committee, AAAE regional chapters, AAAE committees, and Boards of Directors for USCTA and AAAE’s affiliated organisation, the International Association of Airport Executives. He currently serves as President of JSD & Association and is also a part-time faculty member/virtual instructor for Kansas State’s College of Aerospace and Technology.