#SafetoBeYou: Bradley Wallis on Allyship and Speaking Up
Psychological safety is often discussed in workplaces, but its impact is deeply personal.
For many people, it shapes whether they feel comfortable speaking up, contributing ideas, asking questions, or simply showing up as themselves each day. In industries like Energy & Resources, where teams work closely together in high-pressure and remote environments, that sense of safety matters even more.
As part of Pride Month and Sodexo Australia’s Safe to be you campaign, Regional Manager Bradley Wallis shared his perspective on inclusion, visibility, and allyship, reflecting on his own experience navigating psychological safety in the FIFO sector.
Bradley joined Sodexo in 2022 and says one of the moments that shifted his perception of the industry came early in his time with the business. During a toolbox meeting focused on diversity and inclusion, he saw colleagues openly engaging in conversations around identity, respect and belonging.
“The more I was challenged, the more I realised I was safer,” Bradley reflected.
That experience reinforced the importance of creating workplaces where people feel supported to contribute fully without fear of judgement or the need to hide aspects of themselves.
For Sodexo, these conversations are connected to broader priorities around culture, wellbeing, leadership and team performance. Inclusive workplaces help strengthen collaboration, encourage open communication, and create environments where people feel respected and heard.
Bradley believes allyship plays an important role in that process. Not through large gestures, but through everyday behaviours — listening, asking questions respectfully, sharing support openly, and creating space for different perspectives.
“Good allyship is visible by sharing support and people knowing your stance before someone having to ask you,” he said.
He also acknowledged that some people may hesitate to engage in conversations around inclusion because they are worried about saying the wrong thing. His perspective is simple: good intent and openness to learning matter.
“If there’s good intent and openness to be corrected, it’s alright. Nobody knows everything, it’s okay.”
Stories like Bradley’s highlight the role visibility and lived experience can play in helping others feel more confident and connected at work. They also reinforce the importance of continuing to create environments where conversations around inclusion can happen openly and respectfully across sites, villages and offices.
Bradley says what gives him hope is seeing more people across the business wanting to increase visibility of inclusion activities and contribute to positive change.
As Pride Month continues, thank you to Bradley and all employees who continue sharing their experiences and helping build workplaces where everyone feels safe to be themselves.
