SallyAnn Kelly is passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable children but still has time to perfect a mean party piece

What time do you wake up?
Usually around 6.15

What is your morning routine?
I take about an hour to get ready for work and have breakfast and say hello to any family members who are awake. I also try to remember to leave my teenage daughters the contents of my purse before I leave.

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at work?
I spend a few moments speaking to Heather who staffs our reception and then I head upstairs to my office where I connect my laptop before making myself a cup of good coffee

How many hours do you normally work in a day?
I do tend to work more than my standard hours but I have a flexible approach to this. I do value the need for each of us to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Do you have too many meetings?
Yes I think I probably do but I’m working on a way that we can free up people’s time to improve our effectiveness and availability by reducing the amount of meetings we have. A lot of the planning for this will happen by using the great technology available to us through Aberlour’s partnership with Microsoft.

I hope that I would be mature enough to understand that being liked isn’t as important as being respected and being trusted

If you were your boss would you like you?

I think I probably would but I hope that I would be mature enough to understand that being liked isn’t as important as being respected and being trusted.

Is your current job a step on the rung to success or your final destination?
I certainly see the post as Aberlour chief executive as a fantastic opportunity for me as a children’s service leader. I remain passionate about improving the lives of our most vulnerable children and am honoured to be able to be able to lead such an incredible organisation and to help the charity achieve even greater success.

Should there be a cap on charity chief executive pay?
I think we always need to ensure we pay attention to our charitable mission and aims and we recruit the best person to take these forward. The reality is that many charities nowadays are of a considerable size. They require to ensure that they are run effectively and all staff are suitably experienced and qualified, including the senior staff. Interestingly, I applied for my current position without knowing what the salary was and the first conversation I had about pay was when I was made an offer of employment. I can’t see how a cap on pay would necessarily improve the sector.

Have you made your mind up about the independence referendum?
Yes, I have, but it is a personal decision that has no influence on my work.

What’s your favourite album?
A Different Kind of Love Song by Dick Gaughan (cover pictured above)

Who would you invite to dinner – Brian Denis Cox or Brian Edward Cox?
It would have to be Brian Denis Cox. Firstly to thank him for the support he gives to looked after children and because I could impress him with my party piece with a nearly empty soft drink can that I can balance on its ridge and spin! This is a marvel of physics so I would guess the other Brian would already know about it!

SallyAnn Kelly is chief executive of Aberlour Childcare Trust