The charity chief dishes his pet peeves in the office, and how coffee and delivering real change gets him through
Do you have a smooth morning routine or is getting out of the house like navigating Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday?
Fairly smooth but just occasionally something small throws it into chaos.
What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at work?
In the office: coffee you can stand your spoon in. Out of the office: coffee you can stand your spoon in.
What makes a perfect day?
Feeling like we’ve been useful as a team. Good feedback from the network makes it even better and believe it or not that does happen!
What turns you into the office Victor Meldrew?
A variety of work things which I daren’t write here. Office things: other people leaving dirty plates in the sink so that you have to move them before you can wash your own. Why? Just why?
What was the last thing you did that scared you?
I sold the Big Issue for the Big Sell-Off guest fundraiser. A bit scared at first but it wore off quickly and I ended up getting into trouble for chasing people up and down Sauchiehall Street.
What’s your favourite film?
Favourite film by far: Goodbye Lenin.
Is lunch a five-minute sandwich at your desk or do you find time for yourself?
Oh dear. Another “opportunity for improvement”. Need to stop being a lunchtime martyr.
Despite big challenges I think VAS and our network are doing a cracking good job in pressurised times
Calum Irving, Voluntary Action Scotland
Do you have too many meetings?
Yes (see above).
Would your 16-year-old self be impressed with where you are now?
I’m not sure. Given that I wanted to be an artist it seems unlikely that my shy, nervous 16 year old self would not be surprised (if not impressed) at the things I do in my job.
Should there be a cap on charity chief executive pay?
I find this one difficult because I think there is now too big a gulf in pay in this country. Denmark has a collectively bargained minimum wage of £12 per hour. Raising wages at the lower level reduces this gap more effectively. That said charity trustees should govern their CEO’s pay carefully and ensure value for money.
Which do you prefer Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter?
Facebook but ‘Angry Salmond’ may win me over to Twitter.
Why do you work in the third sector?
I love it. It doesn’t always feel like it but now and again you can see how you joined with others to deliver change.
Is this a step on the rung to success or your final destination?
I have no idea. There’s never been a career plan. I’m enjoying VAS (this may surprise people) and despite big challenges I think VAS and our network are doing a cracking good job in pressurised times.
Brian Denis Cox or Brian Edward Cox?
Brian Denis Cox. As it happens there’s a portrait of him in the stairwell next to our office but he is also a genuinely interesting character. Brian Edward Cox is interesting too but he’d lose me somewhere around Saturn’s second moon.
Calum Irving is chief executive ofVoluntary Action Scotland
