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| image        = M Perkins.jpg
| image        = M Perkins.jpg
| caption      = Perkins in 2019
| caption      = Perkins in 2019
| birth_date  = {{birth year and age|1987}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth year and age|1987}}
| birth_place  = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia
| birth_place  = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia
| nationality  = Australian
| nationality  = Australian
| education    = [[University of Western Australia]]
| education    = [[University of Western Australia]]
| occupation  = Technology entrepreneur, business executive
| occupation  = Technology entrepreneur
| known_for    = Co-founder and CEO of [[Canva]]
| known_for    = Co-founder and CEO of [[Canva]]
| years_active = 2007–present
| years_active = 2007–present
| spouse      = Cliff Obrecht
}}
}}


'''Melanie Perkins''' (born 1987) is an Australian technology entrepreneur and business executive who co-founded and serves as chief executive officer of [[Canva]], an online graphic design platform valued at approximately US$42 billion as of 2025. Perkins launched her first business, Fusion Books, a web-based yearbook publisher, while still a university student in Perth, Western Australia. That early venture became the foundation for a far more ambitious idea: democratising design by making professional-quality graphic tools accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Together with co-founders [[Cliff Obrecht]] and [[Cameron Adams]], Perkins built Canva into one of the world's most valuable private technology companies, with hundreds of millions of users globally.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news |date=2025-11-30 |title=Canva CEO Melanie Perkins Shares How She Built A $42 Billion Company: 'Everything Good Was Once Imagined' |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-shares-000133973.html |work=Yahoo Finance |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="bbc-podcast">{{cite web |title=Canva CEO Melanie Perkins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6rtg |publisher=BBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2023, Perkins was listed on the ''Forbes'' list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women and ranked 92nd on ''Fortune''{{'}}s Most Powerful Women list.<ref name="forbes-power">{{cite web |title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="fortune-mpw">{{cite web |title=Most Powerful Women |url=https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women/ |publisher=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She and Obrecht have signed [[the Giving Pledge]], committing to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.<ref name="giving-pledge">{{cite news |date=2021-12-15 |title=Canva's founders join Bill Gates' Giving Pledge to give away half their fortune |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135521/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/canvas-founders-join-bill-gates-giving-pledge-to-give-away-half-their-fortune-20211215-p59hm1.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Melanie Perkins''' (born 1987) is an Australian technology entrepreneur who co-founded and serves as [[chief executive officer]] of [[Canva]], an online graphic design platform valued at approximately US$42 billion. Alongside co-founders [[Cliff Obrecht]] and [[Cameron Adams]], Perkins built Canva from an idea conceived in a university dorm room into one of the world's most valuable private technology companies, used by hundreds of millions of people globally.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=2018-01-04 |title=How Canva's Melanie Perkins built a $1bn business |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728132608/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42552367 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="yahoo">{{cite news |date=2025-11-30 |title=Canva CEO Melanie Perkins Shares How She Built A $42 Billion Company: 'Everything Good Was Once Imagined' |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-shares-000133973.html |work=Yahoo Finance |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Before Canva, Perkins co-founded Fusion Books, a web-based yearbook publishing company, while still a university student. Her entrepreneurial trajectory—from teaching design software to fellow students in Perth to leading a global technology company from Sydney—has made her one of Australia's most prominent business figures. In 2023, she was listed on the ''Forbes'' list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women and ranked 92nd on ''Fortune''{{'}}s list of Most Powerful Women.<ref name="forbes-power">{{cite web |title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="fortune-power">{{cite web |title=Most Powerful Women |url=https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women/ |publisher=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Together with Obrecht, Perkins has signed the [[Giving Pledge]], committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.<ref name="givingpledge">{{cite news |date=2021-12-15 |title=Canva's founders join Bill Gates' Giving Pledge to give away half their fortune |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135521/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/canvas-founders-join-bill-gates-giving-pledge-to-give-away-half-their-fortune-20211215-p59hm1.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]].<ref name="thewest">{{cite news |title=WA Rich List 2018: How Sacred Heart graduate Melanie Perkins built billion-dollar tech empire Canva |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302124306/https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/wa-rich-list-2018-how-sacred-heart-graduate-melanie-perkins-built-billion-dollar-tech-empire-canva-ng-b88795945z |work=The West Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She attended Sacred Heart College in Perth.<ref name="thewest" /> From an early age, Perkins demonstrated an entrepreneurial disposition. As a teenager, she made and sold handmade scarves, an early indicator of her inclination toward creating and selling products.<ref name="smh-scarves">{{cite news |date=2015-10-06 |title=From making scarves to building a $165 million startup: Canva's Melanie Perkins |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721125110/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/from-making-scarves-to-building-a-165-million-startup-canvas-melanie-perkins-20151006-gk2nda.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]].<ref name="bbc" /> She grew up in Perth and attended [[Sacred Heart College, Sorrento|Sacred Heart College]], a Catholic secondary school in the Perth suburb of Sorrento.<ref name="thewest">{{cite news |title=WA Rich List 2018: How Sacred Heart graduate Melanie Perkins built billion-dollar tech empire Canva |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302124306/https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/wa-rich-list-2018-how-sacred-heart-graduate-melanie-perkins-built-billion-dollar-tech-empire-canva-ng-b88795945z |work=The West Australian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Perkins has spoken publicly about how her early experiences shaped her approach to business. The idea that eventually led to Canva began to germinate while she was tutoring fellow students in graphic design software. She observed that existing design tools such as [[Adobe Photoshop]] and [[Adobe InDesign]] were complex and required substantial training to use effectively. The steep learning curve struck her as an unnecessary barrier, and she began to envision a simpler, browser-based alternative that would allow non-designers to produce professional-quality materials.<ref name="bbc-original">{{cite news |title=Canva: The Australian start-up worth more than a billion dollars |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728132608/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42552367 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="entrepreneur">{{cite web |title=How Canva's Melanie Perkins Built a $1 Billion Company |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904115201/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310482 |publisher=Entrepreneur |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
From an early age, Perkins demonstrated an entrepreneurial inclination. As a teenager, she sold handmade scarves, an early venture that reflected her interest in creating and selling products.<ref name="smh-scarves">{{cite news |date=2015-10-06 |title=From making scarves to building a $165 million startup: Canva's Melanie Perkins |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721125110/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/from-making-scarves-to-building-a-165-million-startup-canvas-melanie-perkins-20151006-gk2nda.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Growing up in Perth — geographically remote from the major technology hubs of [[Silicon Valley]] and the eastern Australian cities — Perkins faced the additional challenge of limited access to technology investors and startup networks. Despite this, she channelled her observations about design accessibility into her first company while still an undergraduate.<ref name="smh-scarves" /><ref name="bbc-original" />
The genesis of what would become Canva emerged during Perkins's time as a university student. While studying at the [[University of Western Australia]], she began tutoring other students in how to use graphic design software programs. Through this experience, Perkins observed that existing design tools were unnecessarily complex and inaccessible to the average user. Programs such as [[Adobe Photoshop]] and [[Adobe InDesign|InDesign]] required extensive training and were prohibitively expensive for many potential users. This frustration with the status quo of design software planted the seed for her future ventures.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="smh-scarves" />
 
It was during this period that Perkins met [[Cliff Obrecht]], who would become both her business partner and, later, her husband. Together, the pair began exploring ways to simplify the design process and make it accessible through the internet.<ref name="bbc" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Perkins enrolled at the [[University of Western Australia]] (UWA), where she studied communications, media, and commerce.<ref name="uwa">{{cite web |title=High-tech heroes: Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht |url=https://www.web.uwa.edu.au/university/publications/uniview/news-and-features/high-tech-heroes/melanie-perkins-and-cliff-obrecht |publisher=University of Western Australia |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> It was during her time at UWA that she met [[Cliff Obrecht]], who would become her long-term business partner and, later, her spouse. While at university, Perkins began tutoring other students in design software, an experience that crystallised her conviction that design tools needed to be fundamentally simplified.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="uwa" />
Perkins enrolled at the [[University of Western Australia]] in Perth, where she studied communications, media, and commerce.<ref name="uwa">{{cite web |title=High Tech Heroes: Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht |url=https://www.web.uwa.edu.au/university/publications/uniview/news-and-features/high-tech-heroes/melanie-perkins-and-cliff-obrecht |publisher=University of Western Australia |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> While at university, her experience tutoring fellow students in design programs proved formative for her career. The difficulty she witnessed students having with professional-grade design software reinforced her conviction that there was a market for simpler, more intuitive design tools.<ref name="bbc" />


Rather than completing her degree in the conventional manner, Perkins directed much of her energy toward her first startup. She and Obrecht launched Fusion Books during their university years, applying the same principle that would later underpin Canva: making a complex design process easy enough for anyone to undertake through a web-based drag-and-drop interface.<ref name="smh-scarves" /><ref name="uwa" />
Perkins ultimately did not complete her degree, choosing instead to focus full-time on her first startup, Fusion Books, which she had co-founded while still a student.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="smh-scarves" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Fusion Books ===
=== Fusion Books ===


In 2007, while still a student at the University of Western Australia, Perkins co-founded Fusion Books with Cliff Obrecht. The company was an online platform that allowed school students and administrators to design and order custom yearbooks using a simplified, browser-based interface. The premise was straightforward: yearbook creation had traditionally been cumbersome, often requiring desktop publishing expertise or reliance on expensive external designers. Fusion Books streamlined this process, enabling users to drag and drop photos and text into templates to produce professional-looking yearbooks.<ref name="smh-scarves" /><ref name="entrepreneur" />
In 2007, at the age of 19 and while still a university student, Perkins co-founded Fusion Books with Cliff Obrecht.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="entrepreneur">{{cite news |title=How Canva's CEO Turned a Simple Idea Into a $1 Billion Company |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904115201/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310482 |work=Entrepreneur |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Fusion Books was an online yearbook design and publishing platform that allowed school students in Australia to collaboratively design their own yearbooks using a simplified, web-based interface. The concept grew directly from Perkins's observation that the design tools available at the time were overly complex for basic publishing tasks such as yearbook creation.<ref name="smh-scarves" />


Fusion Books grew to become one of Australia's largest yearbook publishers. The company expanded beyond Australia into markets including France and New Zealand.<ref name="smh-scarves" /> The experience of building Fusion Books provided Perkins and Obrecht with practical knowledge in product development, customer acquisition, and managing a technology-driven business. It also reinforced Perkins's belief that there was a much larger market opportunity in simplifying graphic design beyond yearbooks — for everything from social media graphics and presentations to marketing materials and printed products.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="entrepreneur" />
The company operated from Perth and grew to become one of the largest yearbook publishers in Australia. Fusion Books served as both a viable business and a proof of concept for Perkins's broader vision: that design software could be made accessible to non-professionals through web-based, drag-and-drop tools.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="smh-scarves" /> The experience Perkins gained running Fusion Books—managing production, dealing with customers, and refining the user interface—would prove instrumental in the development of Canva.


=== Founding Canva ===
=== Founding Canva ===


The idea for Canva grew directly out of the lessons Perkins learned at Fusion Books. She envisioned a platform that would encompass a broad range of design tasks, all accessible through a web browser with no prior design training required. The concept was ambitious: to challenge established design software companies by offering a free or low-cost alternative that emphasised ease of use.<ref name="entrepreneur" />
While Fusion Books demonstrated the viability of simplified online design for a niche market, Perkins had a more ambitious goal: to create a platform that could democratize the entire graphic design process. She envisioned a tool that would allow anyone—regardless of training or technical skill—to produce professional-quality designs for a wide range of purposes, from social media graphics and presentations to marketing materials and documents.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="forbes-inside">{{cite news |last=Konrad |first=Alex |date=2019-12-11 |title=Inside Canva, The Profitable $3 Billion Startup Phenom |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132835/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2019/12/11/inside-canva-profitable-3-billion-startup-phenom/ |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Perkins and Obrecht began seeking investment to bring the concept to life. Securing venture capital proved difficult, particularly given their base in Perth, far from Silicon Valley. Perkins has recounted in interviews that she pitched to over 100 investors and was rejected by many before gaining traction. In an effort to connect with investors and mentors in the technology industry, Perkins travelled to [[Silicon Valley]] to attend conferences and make connections.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="entrepreneur" />
Securing funding for this vision proved to be a significant challenge. Perkins and Obrecht spent several years pitching to investors, initially with little success. Operating from Perth—geographically distant from the major technology investment hubs of [[Silicon Valley]] and even Sydney—added to the difficulty. Perkins has recounted being rejected by over 100 investors during the early fundraising process.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="entrepreneur" />


A turning point came when Perkins secured a meeting with Bill Tai, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Tai became an early adviser and helped connect Perkins with additional investors and contacts in the technology industry. Through Tai, Perkins also met [[Cameron Adams]], a former [[Google]] employee and technologist who had extensive experience in web development and user interface design. Adams joined as the third co-founder, bringing critical technical expertise to complement Perkins's product vision and Obrecht's operational capabilities.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="forbes-canva">{{cite news |last=Konrad |first=Alex |date=2019-12-11 |title=Inside Canva, The Profitable $3 Billion Startup Phenom |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132835/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2019/12/11/inside-canva-profitable-3-billion-startup-phenom/ |work=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The turning point came when Perkins and Obrecht attended a technology conference in the United States, where they began to make connections with Silicon Valley investors. They eventually recruited [[Cameron Adams]], an experienced technology executive and former [[Google]] employee, as a co-founder. Adams brought significant technical expertise that complemented Perkins's design vision and Obrecht's operational capabilities.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="forbes-inside" />


Canva was officially launched in 2013, based in [[Sydney]], Australia. The platform offered a freemium model — a free tier with basic features and paid subscriptions (Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise) for advanced functionality. From the outset, the product prioritised simplicity, providing a drag-and-drop interface, a vast library of templates, stock images, fonts, and design elements that enabled users to create graphics without specialised skills.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="forbes-canva" />
Canva was officially launched in 2013, based in [[Sydney]], Australia.<ref name="bbc" /> The platform offered a freemium model, providing basic design tools at no cost while charging for premium features, templates, and assets. The interface was built around a drag-and-drop system that eliminated the need for the steep learning curve associated with traditional design software.


=== Growth and Valuation ===
=== Growth and Valuation ===


Canva experienced rapid user adoption following its launch. The platform attracted individuals, small businesses, educators, students, and large organisations alike. By 2015, the company had been valued at approximately AU$165 million, drawing attention as one of Australia's fastest-growing technology startups.<ref name="smh-scarves" />
Canva experienced rapid growth following its launch. The platform's accessibility attracted a broad user base that included individuals, small businesses, educators, non-profit organizations, and eventually large enterprises. By 2015, the company had achieved a valuation of approximately A$230 million (US$165 million).<ref name="smh-scarves" />
 
By 2019, Canva had reached a valuation of US$3.2 billion and, notably, was already profitable—a rarity among high-growth technology startups of that era. The company's profitability was highlighted in a ''Forbes'' profile that described Canva as a "startup phenom."<ref name="forbes-inside" /> The platform's revenue model, combining free access with paid subscriptions (Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise), proved effective at converting its large free user base into paying customers.


By 2019, Canva had reached profitability — a notable achievement for a venture-backed technology company at its stage — and was valued at approximately US$3.2 billion. A ''Forbes'' profile that year highlighted the company's unusual financial discipline, noting that it had achieved profitability while continuing to grow its user base at a significant pace.<ref name="forbes-canva" />
The company continued to grow substantially through the early 2020s, fueled by the global shift toward remote work and digital communication during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The increased demand for digital design tools—for virtual presentations, social media content, and remote collaboration—accelerated Canva's user acquisition.


The company's valuation continued to climb in subsequent years, driven by accelerating adoption during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] as businesses, schools, and individuals turned to digital tools for remote work and communication. Canva expanded its product suite to include features such as video editing, website building, and team collaboration tools. The platform broadened from individual consumer use to enterprise applications, competing more directly with established software from companies like [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]] and [[Microsoft]].
By 2025, Canva was valued at approximately US$42 billion, making it one of the most valuable private technology companies in the world.<ref name="yahoo" /> The company has remained private, with Perkins resisting pressure to pursue an [[initial public offering]] (IPO). According to ''Fortune'', instead of taking the company public "as the world expects of her," Perkins has been focused on building and expanding Canva's product offerings from the company's base in Sydney.<ref name="fortune-asia">{{cite web |title=Melanie Perkins |url=https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women-asia/2025/melanie-perkins/ |publisher=Fortune |date=2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


By 2025, Canva's valuation had reached approximately US$42 billion, making it one of the most valuable private technology companies in the world.<ref name="yahoo" /> The company reported having hundreds of millions of users globally.<ref name="bbc-podcast" /> In August 2025, Canva facilitated an employee share sale that allowed past and present employees — referred to internally as "Canvanauts" — to sell up to US$3 million of their vested equity, a move that created a number of overnight millionaires among the company's staff.<ref name="fortune-shares">{{cite news |date=2025-08-22 |title=Canva's billionaire founders are minting overnight millionaires with employee share sale |url=https://fortune.com/2025/08/22/canva-billionaire-founders-minting-overnight-millionaires-employee-share-sale/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In August 2025, Canva facilitated an employee share sale that allowed past and present employees—referred to internally as "Canvanauts"—to sell up to US$3 million of their vested equity, creating a significant number of new millionaires among the company's workforce.<ref name="fortune-shares">{{cite news |date=2025-08-22 |title=Canva's billionaire founders are minting overnight millionaires with employee share sale |url=https://fortune.com/2025/08/22/canva-billionaire-founders-minting-overnight-millionaires-employee-share-sale/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Product Expansion and Artificial Intelligence ===
=== Product Expansion and AI Integration ===


Under Perkins's leadership, Canva continued to expand its product offerings beyond its original design focus. In April 2025, the company launched Canva Sheets, a spreadsheet tool, and Canva Code, a generative [[artificial intelligence]] coding tool. Perkins stated publicly that a tool like Canva Code would have made a significant difference during her own early experience building technology products.<ref name="fortune-code">{{cite news |date=2025-04-11 |title=Melanie Perkins talks Canva Code, Canva Sheets launch |url=https://fortune.com/2025/04/11/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-code-sheets/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Under Perkins's leadership, Canva has expanded well beyond its origins as a simple graphic design tool. The platform now offers a suite of products that includes presentation software, video editing tools, website building capabilities, and document creation features—positioning it as a competitor not only to traditional design software but also to productivity suites.


The introduction of AI-powered features marked a strategic evolution for Canva, positioning the company not merely as a design tool but as a broader productivity and creativity platform. Cameron Adams, co-founder, noted in a 2025 interview that the company's AI capabilities, including its AI image generator, had become central to its product identity.<ref name="observer">{{cite news |date=2025-05-08 |title=Building a $49B Design Powerhouse: Interview with Canva Co-Founder Cameron Adams |url=https://observer.com/2025/05/canva-cofounder-ai-design-interview/ |work=Observer |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In April 2025, Canva launched Canva Code, a generative [[artificial intelligence]] coding tool, as well as Canva Sheets, a spreadsheet product. Perkins stated that the AI coding tool "would have made a huge difference" when she was first developing her business ideas, reflecting on how the technology could lower barriers for future entrepreneurs.<ref name="fortune-code">{{cite news |date=2025-04-11 |title=Melanie Perkins talks Canva Code, Canva Sheets launch |url=https://fortune.com/2025/04/11/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-code-sheets/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


As of 2025, Perkins had not taken Canva public through an [[initial public offering]], despite widespread industry speculation that such a move was forthcoming. A ''Fortune'' profile noted that instead of pursuing an IPO, Perkins had been "head-down in Sydney, building," continuing to develop the company's product capabilities and expand its user base.<ref name="fortune-mpw-asia">{{cite web |title=Melanie Perkins — Most Powerful Women Asia 2025 |url=https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women-asia/2025/melanie-perkins/ |publisher=Fortune |date=2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Perkins has described her approach to building Canva as customer-centric, stating that "everything good was once imagined" as a guiding principle for the company's product development philosophy.<ref name="yahoo" />


=== Leadership Style ===
=== Leadership Style ===


Perkins has been noted for a customer-centric approach to product development. In a 2025 interview, she articulated her philosophy by stating that "everything good was once imagined," emphasising the importance of envisioning solutions from the user's perspective before building them.<ref name="yahoo" /> She has also spoken about the importance of focus and healthy habits in sustaining productivity as a founder running a large-scale enterprise. A 2025 profile described her approach to maintaining focus while leading one of the world's most valuable private technology companies.<ref name="diw">{{cite web |title=Healthy Habits of a Billion-Dollar Founder: What Canva's Melanie Perkins Knows About Focus |url=https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2025/11/healthy-habits-of-billion-dollar.html |publisher=Digital Information World |date=2025-11-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Perkins has attracted media attention for her approach to work-life balance, which contrasts with the always-on culture prevalent in the technology industry. In a 2025 podcast interview, Perkins revealed that she does not have email or [[Slack (software)|Slack]] installed on her phone, stating: "When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out." She noted that in the event of a genuine emergency, she would receive an emergency call or page.<ref name="bi-balance">{{cite news |date=2025-11-05 |title=Canva CEO says she doesn't have email or Slack on her phone: 'When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/canva-ceo-work-life-balance-no-email-slack-on-phone-2025-11 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This approach to digital boundaries has been cited as an example of how high-performing executives manage focus and avoid burnout.<ref name="diw">{{cite web |title=Healthy Habits of a Billion-Dollar Founder: What Canva's Melanie Perkins Knows About Focus |url=https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2025/11/healthy-habits-of-billion-dollar.html |publisher=Digital Information World |date=2025-11-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Perkins has maintained Canva's headquarters in Sydney, a decision that distinguishes the company from many technology startups of comparable scale, which frequently relocate to Silicon Valley or other major US technology hubs. This choice has been noted as reflective of her commitment to building a global technology company from Australia.<ref name="fortune-mpw-asia" />


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, who met as students at the University of Western Australia, are both business and life partners. The pair co-founded Fusion Books together and subsequently co-founded Canva. They married in January 2021.<ref name="smh-news">{{cite news |date=2021-02-22 |title=Canva co-founder backs Facebook's move to ban news, slams 'stupid' tech regulation |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223025800/https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/canva-co-founder-backs-facebook-s-move-to-ban-news-slams-stupid-tech-regulation-20210222-p574nt.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Melanie Perkins is married to Cliff Obrecht, who is also co-founder of Canva and serves as the company's [[chief operating officer]]. The couple met while students at the [[University of Western Australia]] and have been both romantic and business partners since their early twenties.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="uwa" />


In December 2021, Perkins and Obrecht signed [[the Giving Pledge]], a commitment initiated by [[Bill Gates]] and [[Warren Buffett]] in which signatories pledge to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. At the time, Perkins and Obrecht were among the youngest individuals to have joined the pledge. Perkins stated that she and Obrecht viewed much of their wealth as being held in trust for the purpose of doing good, rather than for personal accumulation.<ref name="giving-pledge" />
Despite the substantial wealth generated by Canva's success, Perkins and Obrecht have been public about their relatively modest lifestyle compared to other technology billionaires. In 2021, the couple signed the [[Giving Pledge]], an initiative founded by [[Bill Gates]] and [[Warren Buffett]], committing to give away at least half of their fortune to charitable causes. At the time of the announcement, Perkins and Obrecht stated their intention to direct their philanthropy toward causes including poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability.<ref name="givingpledge" />


In 2023, Perkins and fellow Western Australian [[Gina Rinehart]]'s daughter Ginia Rinehart were identified as among Australia's youngest billionaires, both at age 36.<ref name="news-billionaire">{{cite news |title=Melanie Perkins and Ginia Rinehart revealed as Australia's youngest billionaires at age 36 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/melanie-perkins-and-ginia-rinehart-revealed-as-australias-youngest-billionaires-at-age-36/news-story/05aa87b947403359ba2eae5c05a43fa0 |work=news.com.au |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Perkins has been identified, alongside [[Gina Rinehart|Ginia Rinehart]], as one of Australia's youngest billionaires.<ref name="youngest-billionaire">{{cite news |title=Melanie Perkins and Ginia Rinehart revealed as Australia's youngest billionaires at age 36 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/melanie-perkins-and-ginia-rinehart-revealed-as-australias-youngest-billionaires-at-age-36/news-story/05aa87b947403359ba2eae5c05a43fa0 |work=News.com.au |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Despite her substantial personal wealth, Perkins has maintained a reputation for a relatively modest lifestyle. She and Obrecht have spoken in interviews about prioritising their philanthropic commitments over personal luxury.<ref name="giving-pledge" />
The couple is based in Sydney, Australia, where Canva's headquarters are located.<ref name="fortune-asia" />


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Perkins has received numerous accolades for her work in technology and entrepreneurship. Her recognitions include:
Perkins has received numerous accolades recognizing her role in building Canva and her influence in the global technology industry.


* '''Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women''' (2023): Perkins was included on ''Forbes''{{'}} annual list of the world's most powerful women, reflecting her role leading one of the most valuable private technology companies globally.<ref name="forbes-power" />
In 2023, ''Forbes'' included Perkins on its annual list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women, a ranking that assesses the influence and impact of women in business, technology, politics, and philanthropy worldwide.<ref name="forbes-power" /> In the same year, ''Fortune'' ranked her 92nd on its Most Powerful Women list.<ref name="fortune-power" /> She has continued to be recognized on ''Fortune''{{'}}s Most Powerful Women in Asia rankings.<ref name="fortune-asia" />
* '''Fortune Most Powerful Women''' (2023): Perkins was ranked 92nd on ''Fortune''{{'}}s Most Powerful Women list.<ref name="fortune-mpw" />
* '''Fortune Most Powerful Women Asia''' (2025): Perkins was featured on ''Fortune''{{'}}s Most Powerful Women Asia-Pacific ranking.<ref name="fortune-mpw-asia" />
* '''Forbes Billionaires List''': Perkins has appeared on the ''Forbes'' global billionaires list as a result of her stake in Canva.<ref name="forbes-profile">{{cite web |title=Melanie Perkins |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The University of Western Australia has highlighted Perkins and Obrecht as notable alumni, profiling them as "high-tech heroes" in the university's publications.<ref name="uwa" />
''Forbes'' has profiled Perkins on multiple occasions, including a detailed 2019 feature that examined Canva's profitability and growth trajectory at a time when many comparably valued startups were unprofitable.<ref name="forbes-inside" /> Her ''Forbes'' profile has tracked the growth of her personal net worth alongside Canva's rising valuation.<ref name="forbes-profile">{{cite web |title=Melanie Perkins |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Perkins has also been recognised as one of the youngest self-made billionaires in Australia. Her position as CEO of a technology company valued at over US$40 billion has made her one of the most prominent female technology executives globally.<ref name="news-billionaire" /><ref name="yahoo" />
In Australia, Perkins featured on ''The West Australian''{{'}}s Rich List in 2018, which highlighted her journey from a Sacred Heart College graduate to the head of a billion-dollar technology company.<ref name="thewest" />


Media coverage of Perkins has appeared in outlets including the ''BBC'', ''Forbes'', ''Fortune'', ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', ''The West Australian'', and ''Entrepreneur'', among others.<ref name="bbc-original" /><ref name="forbes-canva" /><ref name="smh-scarves" /><ref name="thewest" /><ref name="entrepreneur" />
Media coverage has frequently highlighted Perkins's age and gender as noteworthy in the context of the technology industry, where female founders of companies valued in the billions of dollars remain relatively uncommon. The BBC, ''Fortune'', ''Forbes'', and ''Entrepreneur'' have all published substantial profiles of Perkins.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="entrepreneur" /><ref name="bbn">{{cite news |date=2025-02-19 |title=Meet Melanie Perkins: The CEO of Canva |url=https://www.bbntimes.com/technology/meet-melanie-perkins-the-ceo-of-canva |work=BBN Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref name="bbc-sounds">{{cite web |title=Canva CEO Melanie Perkins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6rtg |publisher=BBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Melanie Perkins's career trajectory — from tutoring design students in Perth to leading a US$42 billion technology company — represents one of the most significant entrepreneurial stories to emerge from Australia's technology sector. Canva's growth under her leadership has been cited as evidence that globally competitive technology companies can be built outside of Silicon Valley, challenging the conventional assumption that founders must relocate to the United States to build companies at scale.<ref name="fortune-mpw-asia" /><ref name="bbc-original" />
Melanie Perkins's career is most closely associated with the concept of democratizing design—making professional-quality graphic design tools accessible and affordable to people without formal design training. Through Canva, she and her co-founders have fundamentally altered the landscape of the design software industry, which was historically dominated by professional-grade products that required significant expertise and financial investment to use.<ref name="forbes-inside" /><ref name="yahoo" />
 
Canva's growth from a Perth-based yearbook publisher to a globally used platform with a valuation of US$42 billion has also had implications for the Australian technology sector. The company's success, achieved while maintaining its headquarters in Sydney rather than relocating to Silicon Valley, has been cited as evidence that world-class technology companies can be built outside of traditional technology hubs.<ref name="fortune-asia" /><ref name="thewest" />


The platform she co-founded has altered how millions of people approach graphic design. By providing accessible tools at low or no cost, Canva has enabled individuals, small businesses, non-profit organisations, and educational institutions to produce professional-quality visual materials without hiring designers or learning complex software. This democratisation of design capability has had measurable effects across industries including marketing, education, and media.<ref name="yahoo" /><ref name="bbc-podcast" />
Perkins's decision, alongside Obrecht, to sign the Giving Pledge has positioned the couple among a small group of technology founders who have committed to directing the majority of their accumulated wealth toward philanthropy. This decision, made while both were still in their thirties, has drawn attention to questions about the responsibilities of wealth generated through technology ventures.<ref name="givingpledge" />


Perkins's signing of the Giving Pledge, alongside Obrecht, has also positioned the couple as prominent figures in the growing movement of technology founders who commit to large-scale philanthropy during their lifetimes rather than accumulating wealth indefinitely. Their pledge, made when they were in their mid-thirties, was among the earliest such commitments by founders of their generation.<ref name="giving-pledge" />
The employee share sale program initiated in 2025, which enabled Canva employees to realize significant financial gains from their equity holdings, has been noted as an example of wealth distribution within a private technology company—a model that some observers have contrasted with companies that delay liquidity events for employees by remaining private for extended periods.<ref name="fortune-shares" />


Her decision to keep Canva headquartered in Sydney, to maintain a relatively modest personal profile despite her wealth, and to focus on long-term product development rather than a rapid path to an IPO have been noted as distinguishing features of her leadership approach. As of 2025, with Canva continuing to expand into new product areas including AI-powered tools, spreadsheets, and coding platforms, Perkins's influence on the technology industry continues to grow.<ref name="fortune-code" /><ref name="fortune-mpw-asia" /><ref name="observer" />
Perkins's journey from teenage scarf-maker in Perth to CEO of a US$42 billion company has become one of the most frequently cited entrepreneurial origin stories in the Australian business landscape.<ref name="smh-scarves" /><ref name="bbc" />


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:Business executives]]
[[Category:Entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Australian people]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Western Australia alumni]]
[[Category:Australian technology entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Australian women in business]]
[[Category:Australian billionaires]]
[[Category:Australian billionaires]]
[[Category:Australian women in business]]
[[Category:Female billionaires]]
[[Category:Australian technology company founders]]
[[Category:Australian chief executives]]
[[Category:People from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:People from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:University of Western Australia alumni]]
[[Category:Canva]]
[[Category:Giving Pledge signatories]]
[[Category:Giving Pledge signatories]]
[[Category:Australian company founders]]
[[Category:Women chief executives]]
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Latest revision as of 01:55, 24 February 2026



Melanie Perkins
Perkins in 2019
Melanie Perkins
BornTemplate:Birth year and age
BirthplacePerth, Western Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationTechnology entrepreneur
Known forCo-founder and CEO of Canva
EducationUniversity of Western Australia
Spouse(s)Cliff Obrecht

Melanie Perkins (born 1987) is an Australian technology entrepreneur who co-founded and serves as chief executive officer of Canva, an online graphic design platform valued at approximately US$42 billion. Alongside co-founders Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, Perkins built Canva from an idea conceived in a university dorm room into one of the world's most valuable private technology companies, used by hundreds of millions of people globally.[1][2] Before Canva, Perkins co-founded Fusion Books, a web-based yearbook publishing company, while still a university student. Her entrepreneurial trajectory—from teaching design software to fellow students in Perth to leading a global technology company from Sydney—has made her one of Australia's most prominent business figures. In 2023, she was listed on the Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women and ranked 92nd on FortuneTemplate:'s list of Most Powerful Women.[3][4] Together with Obrecht, Perkins has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.[5]

Early Life

Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia.[1] She grew up in Perth and attended Sacred Heart College, a Catholic secondary school in the Perth suburb of Sorrento.[6]

From an early age, Perkins demonstrated an entrepreneurial inclination. As a teenager, she sold handmade scarves, an early venture that reflected her interest in creating and selling products.[7]

The genesis of what would become Canva emerged during Perkins's time as a university student. While studying at the University of Western Australia, she began tutoring other students in how to use graphic design software programs. Through this experience, Perkins observed that existing design tools were unnecessarily complex and inaccessible to the average user. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign required extensive training and were prohibitively expensive for many potential users. This frustration with the status quo of design software planted the seed for her future ventures.[1][7]

It was during this period that Perkins met Cliff Obrecht, who would become both her business partner and, later, her husband. Together, the pair began exploring ways to simplify the design process and make it accessible through the internet.[1]

Education

Perkins enrolled at the University of Western Australia in Perth, where she studied communications, media, and commerce.[8] While at university, her experience tutoring fellow students in design programs proved formative for her career. The difficulty she witnessed students having with professional-grade design software reinforced her conviction that there was a market for simpler, more intuitive design tools.[1]

Perkins ultimately did not complete her degree, choosing instead to focus full-time on her first startup, Fusion Books, which she had co-founded while still a student.[1][7]

Career

Fusion Books

In 2007, at the age of 19 and while still a university student, Perkins co-founded Fusion Books with Cliff Obrecht.[1][9] Fusion Books was an online yearbook design and publishing platform that allowed school students in Australia to collaboratively design their own yearbooks using a simplified, web-based interface. The concept grew directly from Perkins's observation that the design tools available at the time were overly complex for basic publishing tasks such as yearbook creation.[7]

The company operated from Perth and grew to become one of the largest yearbook publishers in Australia. Fusion Books served as both a viable business and a proof of concept for Perkins's broader vision: that design software could be made accessible to non-professionals through web-based, drag-and-drop tools.[1][7] The experience Perkins gained running Fusion Books—managing production, dealing with customers, and refining the user interface—would prove instrumental in the development of Canva.

Founding Canva

While Fusion Books demonstrated the viability of simplified online design for a niche market, Perkins had a more ambitious goal: to create a platform that could democratize the entire graphic design process. She envisioned a tool that would allow anyone—regardless of training or technical skill—to produce professional-quality designs for a wide range of purposes, from social media graphics and presentations to marketing materials and documents.[1][10]

Securing funding for this vision proved to be a significant challenge. Perkins and Obrecht spent several years pitching to investors, initially with little success. Operating from Perth—geographically distant from the major technology investment hubs of Silicon Valley and even Sydney—added to the difficulty. Perkins has recounted being rejected by over 100 investors during the early fundraising process.[1][9]

The turning point came when Perkins and Obrecht attended a technology conference in the United States, where they began to make connections with Silicon Valley investors. They eventually recruited Cameron Adams, an experienced technology executive and former Google employee, as a co-founder. Adams brought significant technical expertise that complemented Perkins's design vision and Obrecht's operational capabilities.[1][10]

Canva was officially launched in 2013, based in Sydney, Australia.[1] The platform offered a freemium model, providing basic design tools at no cost while charging for premium features, templates, and assets. The interface was built around a drag-and-drop system that eliminated the need for the steep learning curve associated with traditional design software.

Growth and Valuation

Canva experienced rapid growth following its launch. The platform's accessibility attracted a broad user base that included individuals, small businesses, educators, non-profit organizations, and eventually large enterprises. By 2015, the company had achieved a valuation of approximately A$230 million (US$165 million).[7]

By 2019, Canva had reached a valuation of US$3.2 billion and, notably, was already profitable—a rarity among high-growth technology startups of that era. The company's profitability was highlighted in a Forbes profile that described Canva as a "startup phenom."[10] The platform's revenue model, combining free access with paid subscriptions (Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise), proved effective at converting its large free user base into paying customers.

The company continued to grow substantially through the early 2020s, fueled by the global shift toward remote work and digital communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased demand for digital design tools—for virtual presentations, social media content, and remote collaboration—accelerated Canva's user acquisition.

By 2025, Canva was valued at approximately US$42 billion, making it one of the most valuable private technology companies in the world.[2] The company has remained private, with Perkins resisting pressure to pursue an initial public offering (IPO). According to Fortune, instead of taking the company public "as the world expects of her," Perkins has been focused on building and expanding Canva's product offerings from the company's base in Sydney.[11]

In August 2025, Canva facilitated an employee share sale that allowed past and present employees—referred to internally as "Canvanauts"—to sell up to US$3 million of their vested equity, creating a significant number of new millionaires among the company's workforce.[12]

Product Expansion and AI Integration

Under Perkins's leadership, Canva has expanded well beyond its origins as a simple graphic design tool. The platform now offers a suite of products that includes presentation software, video editing tools, website building capabilities, and document creation features—positioning it as a competitor not only to traditional design software but also to productivity suites.

In April 2025, Canva launched Canva Code, a generative artificial intelligence coding tool, as well as Canva Sheets, a spreadsheet product. Perkins stated that the AI coding tool "would have made a huge difference" when she was first developing her business ideas, reflecting on how the technology could lower barriers for future entrepreneurs.[13]

Perkins has described her approach to building Canva as customer-centric, stating that "everything good was once imagined" as a guiding principle for the company's product development philosophy.[2]

Leadership Style

Perkins has attracted media attention for her approach to work-life balance, which contrasts with the always-on culture prevalent in the technology industry. In a 2025 podcast interview, Perkins revealed that she does not have email or Slack installed on her phone, stating: "When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out." She noted that in the event of a genuine emergency, she would receive an emergency call or page.[14] This approach to digital boundaries has been cited as an example of how high-performing executives manage focus and avoid burnout.[15]

Personal Life

Melanie Perkins is married to Cliff Obrecht, who is also co-founder of Canva and serves as the company's chief operating officer. The couple met while students at the University of Western Australia and have been both romantic and business partners since their early twenties.[1][8]

Despite the substantial wealth generated by Canva's success, Perkins and Obrecht have been public about their relatively modest lifestyle compared to other technology billionaires. In 2021, the couple signed the Giving Pledge, an initiative founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, committing to give away at least half of their fortune to charitable causes. At the time of the announcement, Perkins and Obrecht stated their intention to direct their philanthropy toward causes including poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability.[5]

Perkins has been identified, alongside Ginia Rinehart, as one of Australia's youngest billionaires.[16]

The couple is based in Sydney, Australia, where Canva's headquarters are located.[11]

Recognition

Perkins has received numerous accolades recognizing her role in building Canva and her influence in the global technology industry.

In 2023, Forbes included Perkins on its annual list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women, a ranking that assesses the influence and impact of women in business, technology, politics, and philanthropy worldwide.[3] In the same year, Fortune ranked her 92nd on its Most Powerful Women list.[4] She has continued to be recognized on FortuneTemplate:'s Most Powerful Women in Asia rankings.[11]

Forbes has profiled Perkins on multiple occasions, including a detailed 2019 feature that examined Canva's profitability and growth trajectory at a time when many comparably valued startups were unprofitable.[10] Her Forbes profile has tracked the growth of her personal net worth alongside Canva's rising valuation.[17]

In Australia, Perkins featured on The West AustralianTemplate:'s Rich List in 2018, which highlighted her journey from a Sacred Heart College graduate to the head of a billion-dollar technology company.[6]

Media coverage has frequently highlighted Perkins's age and gender as noteworthy in the context of the technology industry, where female founders of companies valued in the billions of dollars remain relatively uncommon. The BBC, Fortune, Forbes, and Entrepreneur have all published substantial profiles of Perkins.[1][9][18][19]

Legacy

Melanie Perkins's career is most closely associated with the concept of democratizing design—making professional-quality graphic design tools accessible and affordable to people without formal design training. Through Canva, she and her co-founders have fundamentally altered the landscape of the design software industry, which was historically dominated by professional-grade products that required significant expertise and financial investment to use.[10][2]

Canva's growth from a Perth-based yearbook publisher to a globally used platform with a valuation of US$42 billion has also had implications for the Australian technology sector. The company's success, achieved while maintaining its headquarters in Sydney rather than relocating to Silicon Valley, has been cited as evidence that world-class technology companies can be built outside of traditional technology hubs.[11][6]

Perkins's decision, alongside Obrecht, to sign the Giving Pledge has positioned the couple among a small group of technology founders who have committed to directing the majority of their accumulated wealth toward philanthropy. This decision, made while both were still in their thirties, has drawn attention to questions about the responsibilities of wealth generated through technology ventures.[5]

The employee share sale program initiated in 2025, which enabled Canva employees to realize significant financial gains from their equity holdings, has been noted as an example of wealth distribution within a private technology company—a model that some observers have contrasted with companies that delay liquidity events for employees by remaining private for extended periods.[12]

Perkins's journey from teenage scarf-maker in Perth to CEO of a US$42 billion company has become one of the most frequently cited entrepreneurial origin stories in the Australian business landscape.[7][1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "How Canva's Melanie Perkins built a $1bn business".BBC News.2018-01-04.https://web.archive.org/web/20180728132608/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42552367.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Canva CEO Melanie Perkins Shares How She Built A $42 Billion Company: 'Everything Good Was Once Imagined'".Yahoo Finance.2025-11-30.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-shares-000133973.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women".Forbes.https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Most Powerful Women".Fortune.https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Canva's founders join Bill Gates' Giving Pledge to give away half their fortune".The Sydney Morning Herald.2021-12-15.https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135521/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/canvas-founders-join-bill-gates-giving-pledge-to-give-away-half-their-fortune-20211215-p59hm1.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "WA Rich List 2018: How Sacred Heart graduate Melanie Perkins built billion-dollar tech empire Canva".The West Australian.https://web.archive.org/web/20230302124306/https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/wa-rich-list-2018-how-sacred-heart-graduate-melanie-perkins-built-billion-dollar-tech-empire-canva-ng-b88795945z.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 "From making scarves to building a $165 million startup: Canva's Melanie Perkins".The Sydney Morning Herald.2015-10-06.https://web.archive.org/web/20230721125110/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/from-making-scarves-to-building-a-165-million-startup-canvas-melanie-perkins-20151006-gk2nda.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "High Tech Heroes: Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht".University of Western Australia.https://www.web.uwa.edu.au/university/publications/uniview/news-and-features/high-tech-heroes/melanie-perkins-and-cliff-obrecht.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "How Canva's CEO Turned a Simple Idea Into a $1 Billion Company".Entrepreneur.https://web.archive.org/web/20220904115201/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310482.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 KonradAlexAlex"Inside Canva, The Profitable $3 Billion Startup Phenom".Forbes.2019-12-11.https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132835/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2019/12/11/inside-canva-profitable-3-billion-startup-phenom/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Melanie Perkins".Fortune.2025.https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women-asia/2025/melanie-perkins/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Canva's billionaire founders are minting overnight millionaires with employee share sale".Fortune.2025-08-22.https://fortune.com/2025/08/22/canva-billionaire-founders-minting-overnight-millionaires-employee-share-sale/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Melanie Perkins talks Canva Code, Canva Sheets launch".Fortune.2025-04-11.https://fortune.com/2025/04/11/canva-ceo-melanie-perkins-code-sheets/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Canva CEO says she doesn't have email or Slack on her phone: 'When I shut my laptop, I actually tune out'".Business Insider.2025-11-05.https://www.businessinsider.com/canva-ceo-work-life-balance-no-email-slack-on-phone-2025-11.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Healthy Habits of a Billion-Dollar Founder: What Canva's Melanie Perkins Knows About Focus".Digital Information World.2025-11-06.https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2025/11/healthy-habits-of-billion-dollar.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Melanie Perkins and Ginia Rinehart revealed as Australia's youngest billionaires at age 36".News.com.au.https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/melanie-perkins-and-ginia-rinehart-revealed-as-australias-youngest-billionaires-at-age-36/news-story/05aa87b947403359ba2eae5c05a43fa0.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Melanie Perkins".Forbes.https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Meet Melanie Perkins: The CEO of Canva".BBN Times.2025-02-19.https://www.bbntimes.com/technology/meet-melanie-perkins-the-ceo-of-canva.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Canva CEO Melanie Perkins".BBC.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6rtg.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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