Richard Millar
Chief Operating Officer @Scottish Canals
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WORK HISTORY
Chief Operating Officer @Scottish Canals
My role at Scottish Canals covers caring for the amazing canals of Scotland through asset management, engineering, operations, destination development & customer service as well as property and estates. Fellow of ICE, Chair of Pinkston Paddlesports.Directed the strategic, operational, and safety performance of a national organisation at director level. COO and interim CEO positions, responsible for over £20m of budget and 300 staff, driving vision and influencing government-level stakeholders to achieve long-term objectives.Have led organisational change across engineering, tourism, estates, and operations, delivering revenue growth, grant re-baselining process, efficiency programmes, and cultural transformation often exceeding expectations.
EDUCATION
Robert Gordon University
Master of Science - MS
Abertay University
Bachelor of Engineering - BEng (Hons)
ABOUT RICHARD MILLAR
As COO, I lead a diverse £20m+ per annum portfolio covering engineering, operations, estates, destinations, commercial development, placemaking, and fundraising. I thrive on building belief, support, and engagement across political, public, commercial, and third‑sector environments right through to community level.As COO of Scottish Canals, I focus every day on connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to drive meaningful change. Through leadership, communication, and collaboration, re‑engineer Scotland’s historic waterways, ensuring they respond to the realities of climate change and the needs of today’s communities and future generations. I have led and fundraised projects in partnership and with communities totalling over £250m, taking them from inception to delivery. Major milestone projects include The Millennium Link, The Kelpies, Stockingfield Bridge, Pinkston Water Sports, and the Glasgow Smart Canal, alongside significant regeneration initiatives across the canal network.Over the last 15 years, I have refined deep expertise in major organisational change—designing and delivering well-structured programmes and embedding exemplary governance to sustain them. This work has increasingly involved collaboration with government on the development and deployment of Public Sector Reform.I am also committed to skills development and transition. I am currently leading our work on Lock 16: Scotland’s Centre for Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills. In partnership with HES, this project will transform an abandoned building into a sq ft hub for volunteering, skills development, and large‑scale apprenticeship training.I also enjoy sharing the story and ethos of Scottish Canals nationally and internationally, and have delivered keynote speeches on across the globe.
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