Kay is Professor of Communities and Race Relations in the School of Law and Social Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University. She previously held posts at the University of Durban-Westville, South Africa (1978-1998) as a Sociology lecturer and researcher (Institute for Social and Economic Research), and the Durban Municipality Strategic Planning Unit as a Research Fellow (1990-1993), leading on research and policy for the post–apartheid era. Kay has served on the Community Fund, (now Big Lottery) (Board Member and Scottish Chair,1998-2003); Wellcome Trust, Society Awards, 2001-2003; Nuffield Trust, Advisory forum, 2008-), Runnymede Trust, Academic Forum (2006-) and equality bodies (Trustee, Scottish Refugee Council, - 2003-2005; Chair, Deputy Chair and Scottish Commissioner, Commission for Racial Equality, 2003-2007). Kay was a Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission from 2007 – 2009. She is also an Ambassador for BTCV, a UK environmental organisation.