Vaughan is well known for his dedication and intelligence in improving SA’s waste and recycling sector, hitting high profile milestones such as the roll-out of Australia’s first single-use plastic bags ban in 2009, the first Circular Economy strategy in Australia in 2017, and the development of the first Australian state-wide five-year waste strategy and most recently oversaw the development of Australia’s first ban on single-use plastic items. He has overseen investment in the sector of hundreds of millions of dollars and the development and delivery of public education campaigns relating to recycling. In 2016 he received the Public Service Medal, For outstanding public service in the area of waste management reform and policy. He is the former Chief Executive of Zero Waste SA and Green Industries SA.