Dassie Persaud-van der Westhuizen is an award-winning aviation planner boasting almost seven years of diverse and international experience in aviation sustainability planning, airline operations (as a pilot and cabin crew), and aviation journalism. Dassie holds a BSc Architecture degree and graduated Cum Laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a MS Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability after obtaining her Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL).
Dassie uses her lived experience as a biracial woman and military spouse working in a male-dominated industry to advocate for breaking down barriers for other minorities to enter and excel in the aviation industry. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of aviation sustainability by working on emerging topics such as airport infrastructure resilience, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and the industry skills shortage. As a result of her forward-thinking ideas, Dassie was selected as one of eight inspiring women advancing aviation sustainability, has presented research to NASA’s environmental committee, published a peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of Airport Management, and served as a panelist at an annual sustainability conference. She volunteers as a senior advisor at the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Institute.
