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Melanie Perkins
| Born | Melanie Perkins Perth, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | University of Western Australia (Communications, Psychology & Commerce) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, CEO, Co-founder |
| Known for | Co-founder & CEO of Canva |
| Spouse | Cliff Obrecht |
| Website | canva.com |
Melanie Perkins is an Australian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Canva, a web-based graphic design platform headquartered in Sydney. Under her leadership, Canva grew from a small Australian startup into a globally recognised design platform used by millions of individuals, businesses, educators, and organisations.
| Born | Melanie Perkins Perth, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | University of Western Australia (Communications, Psychology & Commerce) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, CEO, Co-founder |
| Known for | Co-founder & CEO of Canva |
| Spouse | Cliff Obrecht |
| Website | canva.com |
Early life and education[edit]
Melanie Perkins was born in Perth, Western Australia. She developed an interest in technology, business, and design at a young age.
Perkins attended University of Western Australia, where she studied communications, psychology, and commerce. While studying, she noticed that many students struggled with complex design software. This observation inspired her to create a simpler and more accessible design tool.
During her university years, she started experimenting with online design education and entrepreneurial projects, which eventually laid the foundation for her later ventures.
Career[edit]
Entrepreneurial career[edit]
Melanie Perkins is best known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Canva, a web-based graphic design platform headquartered in Sydney.
Perkins founded Canva in 2013 together with co-founders Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. The platform was created with the goal of making design accessible to everyone, allowing users to easily create graphics, presentations, social media visuals, and other digital content.
Before launching Canva, Perkins and Obrecht had founded an earlier startup called Fusion Books, which provided an online platform for designing school yearbooks. The experience gained from that venture helped shape the concept for Canva.
Initially, Perkins faced significant challenges while raising funding, reportedly receiving more than 100 rejections from investors. However, after securing backing from venture capital firms, Canva began expanding rapidly.
Under Perkins' leadership, Canva grew from a small Australian startup into a globally recognised design platform used by millions of individuals, businesses, educators, and organisations. By 2026, the company's valuation exceeded $40 billion, making it one of the most valuable technology companies founded in Australia.
Career as an Author, YouTuber, and Podcaster[edit]
Although primarily known as a technology entrepreneur, Melanie Perkins frequently shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and product innovation through interviews, conference talks, and digital platforms.
She has appeared in numerous online discussions, podcasts, and video interviews where she discusses startup culture, overcoming investor rejection, and building scalable digital products. Her talks often focus on empowering entrepreneurs and encouraging innovation in the technology sector.
Philanthropy[edit]
Melanie Perkins and her co-founder Cliff Obrecht have pledged a significant portion of their wealth toward charitable initiatives. Their philanthropic mission focuses on addressing global inequality and supporting humanitarian causes.
Through the Canva Foundation and related initiatives, they have supported projects aimed at poverty alleviation, education, and social development. The founders have publicly committed to donating the majority of their wealth during their lifetime.
Bibliography[edit]
As of now, Melanie Perkins has not released a widely recognised standalone book. However, her entrepreneurial journey and leadership insights have been featured in numerous business publications, interviews, and case studies focused on startup success and innovation.
Personal life[edit]
Melanie Perkins maintains a relatively private personal life despite her global recognition. She is married to Cliff Obrecht, who is also her co-founder and business partner.
The couple continues to work together in leading Canva's growth while also focusing on philanthropic initiatives and global social impact projects.
References[edit]
- Corporate information from Canva.
- Interviews and business publications featuring Melanie Perkins.
- Startup and technology reports covering Canva's growth and valuation.