Who Is Melanie Perkins? Age, Biography and Wiki
Melanie Perkins, born in 1987, is a prominent Australian technology entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Canva, a graphic design platform that has revolutionized the way people create visuals online. As of 2025, she celebrates her 38th birthday. Melanie completed her education at the University of Western Australia, where she first conceptualized the idea for Canva while teaching design programs to fellow students in her university.
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1987 (age 38) |
| Age | 38 Years |
| Birth Place | Perth, Western Australia |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | Australia |
Popularity
Melanie Perkins's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In 2025, Melanie Perkins stands at an impressive height of approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm). Her weight is estimated to be around 135 pounds (61 kg), although precise measurements fluctuate over time. Known for her approachable yet professional demeanor, Melanie's physical appearance is complemented by her healthy lifestyle.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Details about Melanie Perkins’ personal life, including her family and relationship status, remain relatively private. However, as of 2025, she is reportedly dating Cliff Obrecht, her longtime partner and co-founder of Canva. The couple has been together for several years and has a strong bond built on mutual support for each other’s professional pursuits.
Fusion Books was founded by Perkins and Obrecht in 2007. Fusion Books allowed students to design their own school yearbooks by using a simple drag-and-drop tool equipped with a library of design templates that could be populated with photos, illustrations, and fonts.
Originally, Perkins wanted to develop software that made the entire design process easier but due to the competition with large companies and her lack of resources, she concluded ‘it did not seem the logical thing to do’. Perkins's mother was a teacher who would also co-ordinate the school yearbook.
Perkins saw how much time was required to design a yearbook and thought the high level of consumer friction would make yearbooks a good niche to test the idea for Canva.
Net Worth and Salary
As a successful entrepreneur, Melanie Perkins boasts an estimated net worth of around $400 million in 2025. Her wealth primarily stems from the success of Canva, which is valued at several billion dollars following numerous funding rounds and a significant user base growth. Melanie’s annual salary is not publicly disclosed, but given her position and the success of her business, it is presumed to be substantial.
Perkins is one of the youngest female CEOs of a tech start-up valued over A$1 billion. As of May 2021, Perkins was one of Australia's richest women with an estimated net worth of US$4.4 billion. .
Career, Business and Investments
Melanie's journey into entrepreneurship began in her early 20s when she co-founded Canva in 2013 with Cliff Obrecht. The platform democratized design by making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their design background. Under her leadership, Canva has expanded to serve more than 60 million active users globally and has developed integrated tools for professionals, enhancing productivity and collaboration.
In addition to Canva, Melanie has made several strategic investments in startups and education-focused companies. Her commitment to fostering innovation in the tech industry has established her as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Melanie Perkins (born 1987) is an Australian technology entrepreneur, who is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Canva. She owns 18% of the company.
Social Network
Melanie Perkins is active on various social media platforms, utilizing them to share her entrepreneurial journey and engage with her audience. You can find her on:
- Twitter: @melperkins
- Instagram: @melanieperkins
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melanieperkins
Controversy surrounds the gender disparity in the technology industry as well as amongst start-ups, with one in four start-ups founded by a woman. Perkins is amongst the 2 percent of female CEOs of venture-backed companies.
She wrote an article for people who feel like 'they are on the outside' and discussed her journey as a young entrepreneur in order to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to pursue big dreams and concentrate on their goals.
Perkins has implemented policies at Canva that eliminate bias in the hiring process, that has resulted in Canva obtaining 41 percent female representation, significantly higher than the industry average of 28 percent.
Education
Melanie Perkins graduated from the University of Western Australia with a degree in Communications and Commerce. During her university years, she discovered her passion for design, which ultimately led her to create Canva. Her educational background equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complex world of tech entrepreneurship successfully.
