World Canals Conference 2025 is proud to welcome our two powerhouse keynote speakers to our stage: Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Canals, and Haben Girma, award-winning advocate, author, and speaker. From innovation in infrastructure to accessibility in outdoor recreation, these leaders bring bold ideas and transformative stories to our global canals community.
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Richard Millar
Once facing a steep decline, Scotland’s canals are now a model for sustainable revitalization, and no one has been more central to that transformation than Richard Millar. As Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Canals, Millar helped lead the ambitious Millennium Link project, reawakening the Lowland canals and setting the stage for innovative projects like The Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel, and smart canal technologies.
His keynote will dive into how these blue-green corridors now power Scotland’s future—supporting urban housing, renewable energy, low-carbon transport, and public health—and how canal systems around the world can follow suit.
Haben Girma
As the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, Haben Girma has spent her life breaking barriers and helping communities do the same. Recognized by Forbes 30 under 30, the Helen Keller Achievement Award, and the 2013 White House as a Champion of Change, Girma is an inspiring voice for accessibility, inclusion, and innovation.
Her WCC 2025 keynote will explore how people with disabilities engage with parks, trails, and canal spaces—and how designing for inclusion can create richer, more resilient communities for everyone. Expect storytelling, practical insight, and a call to action.
Register for WCC 2025 Today
Don’t miss these dynamic discussions as we explore the future-forward role canals can play in 21st-century society and how access creates strong communities for all.
Registration options include full conference and single day.