Green Industries SA Chief Executive retires

Green Industries SA Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke is retiring after nearly 20 years in the job.

Levitzke first entered the public service in 1978 as an Ecologist with the Department for the Environment.

After 10 years with the South Australian EPA, he was appointed Acting Chief Executive of Zero Waste SA in July 2003 during the Agency’s establishment phase, and was subsequently appointed by the Governor in 2004 as its inaugural Chief Executive.

Environment and Water Minister David Speirs congratulated Levitzke on an outstanding career and thanked him for his service.

“After an impressive 43 years of public service for the people of South Australia today [12 March] is Vaughan’s last day, with him handing over the reins as Chief Executive to go on some well-earned long service leave prior to officially finishing up at the end of June,” he said.

“I want to congratulate Vaughan on an outstanding career spanning nearly 50 years of public service, but in particular for his work to improve waste management in South Australia.”

Speirs added that South Australia is a national leader when it comes to waste management, with many of the state’s significant milestones delivered under Levitzke’s leadership.

“He oversaw Australia’s first ban on single-use plastic bags in 2009. The plastic bag ban legislation enjoyed overwhelming public support and was acknowledged with a Premier’s Award that year,” Speirs said.

“Vaughan was instrumental in developing the first Australian state-wide five-year waste strategy with the state’s most recent waste strategy for 2020-2025 released in December 2020.

“Most recently Vaughan was the chair of the State Government’s taskforce in the lead up to South Australia’s historic ban on single-use plastics.”

Levitzke is handing the reigns over to Ian Overton, who has over 30 years experience in business, research, academia and government, including 17 years with the CSIRO.

“Incoming Chief Executive Dr Ian Overton will continue to forge ahead with Green Industries SA delivering a more circular economy for South Australia,” Speirs said.

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