Sean Mendis is a seasoned aviation executive with over two decades of experience in launching and managing airlines across Africa. He was part of the startup management team at Ghana International Airlines from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, he led the team that started Africa World Airlines (AWA) in partnership with HNA Group of China, serving as Chief Operations Officer and overseeing its successful launch in 2012.

Beyond airlines, Sean has also managed Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport in Somalia under contract from the Somali Federal Government. Between 2013 and 2018, he led aviation projects for SKA International Group, including establishing a jet-fuel terminal and air cargo warehouse at Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, and launching a cargo airline in Uganda. In 2018, he returned to AWA for a second term as Chief Operations Officer, guiding the airline to significant revenue and fleet growth, and through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sean is presently based in Malawi, where he provides executive level aviation consulting, strategic advice, and the occasional uncomfortable truth to airlines, investors, and governments across the region. He carries the unofficial title of "Chief Troublemaker", earned through a long habit of asking inconvenient questions about regulation, economics, and why certain aviation policies appear to have been designed specifically to make flying more difficult. When not causing trouble in boardrooms, Sean is a regular commentator in international television and print media on aviation issues, and can also be found on the monthly AviaDev Africa Connectivity podcast.