The AXIS Network hosted a focused lunchtime roundtable at OEUK on 18 March to explore the role of returners - individuals re‑entering the workforce after a career break. Returnships is one of our AXIS Vision 2030 steps, which is AXIS’s pathway toward gender equity. Currently, despite strong qualifications, many returners experience systemic exclusion through outdated recruitment processes, unconscious bias, and inflexible work models. These barriers disproportionately affect