Speaker Spotlight: Melanie Perkins – Co-Founder & CEO of Canva

Melanie Perkins is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canva, one of the world’s most popular online design platforms. Under her leadership, Canva has grown into a global powerhouse, attracting over 220 million monthly users who rely on its tools to create everything from business presentations to social media graphics. Recognised for her vision and impact, Forbes named her one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023. Melanie is celebrated not only as a successful entrepreneur but also as an innovator who has made design accessible to everyone, reshaping the way individuals and businesses communicate visually.

Melanie’s Key Achievements:

• 2023 – Named as one of the World’s Most Powerful Women by Forbes
• 2023 – Ranked 92nd in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women
• 2012 – Co-Founder & CEO of Canva
• 2007 – Founder & Director of Fusion Books
• 2007 – Public Relations Internship at Weber Shandwick
• 2006 – Multimedia Centre Technical Assistant & Tutor at The University of Western Australia

Melanie Perkins’ Biography:

Melanie Perkins is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canva, one of the world’s leading online design platforms. She began her journey at The University of Western Australia, where she studied Communications, Psychology, Marketing and Management. While at university, she privately tutored students in graphic design and worked as a Multimedia Centre Technical Assistant and Tutor, teaching software such as Adobe Photoshop, Flash and iMovie. These experiences revealed a common problem: design tools were overly complicated and inaccessible to many, and Melanie often found herself speaking to students about simpler ways to approach creativity.

In 2007, Melanie completed a public relations internship with Weber Shandwick before launching her first business, Fusion Books. Created with her partner Cliff Obrecht, Fusion Books allowed schools to design and publish yearbooks online, growing from Australia into New Zealand and France. Recognising the potential of entrepreneurship, Melanie made the bold decision to drop out of university to focus on the start-up full-time with Obrecht, who later became her husband. Fusion Books proved a success and laid the groundwork for their next, much bigger venture, where Melanie’s expertise in design and leadership would truly shine.

In 2012, Melanie co-founded Canva with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, a former Google designer. Their goal was to make design simple and accessible for everyone. Under her leadership as CEO, Canva has become a global platform with hundreds of millions of users, praised for its intuitive drag-and-drop tools that allow people to create professional-quality content without needing advanced design skills. Today, she continues to speak at global events about the power of creativity, technology and innovation.

More recently, Melanie has led Canva’s expansion into artificial intelligence. The platform now offers features such as Magic Resize, Background Remover and AI-powered content generation. These tools automate time-consuming tasks, giving users more space to focus on creativity. Melanie believes AI is a natural extension of Canva’s mission to democratise design and empower anyone to bring their ideas to life. From tutoring students in graphic design to building one of the world’s most influential creative platforms, Melanie Perkins has shown vision, resilience and innovation. Alongside her husband and business partner, Cliff Obrecht, she continues to drive Canva forward, making design more accessible for millions of people worldwide.

Melanie Perkins as a Keynote Speaker:

Melanie Perkins’ success as the Co-Founder of Canva has earned her status as one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in business today. Best known for turning a simple idea into a multibillion-dollar design platform used by hundreds of millions worldwide, she shares an inspiring story of innovation, perseverance, and bold ambition. Melanie has starred on Goldman Sachs Talks, where she spoke on “Growing an Idea into a Multibillion-Dollar Design Company,” and has been interviewed by leading outlets, including TIME, CNBC International, and the New York Stock Exchange on “From Founding to the Future“.

Her influence has reached audiences across the globe, from a keynote at Sunrise North Island to a celebrated Q&A at SXSW Sydney 2024, “Canva’s Story: From Idea to Startup to World Leader”. Featured on Nine News Australia, Melanie is recognised not only as a successful entrepreneur but also as a role model for women in leadership. As a keynote speaker, she highlights the mindset shifts and resilience required to scale a startup into a global leader, while inspiring the next generation of female founders to challenge conventions. Her talks spark a startup revolution, motivating audiences to dream big and act boldly in shaping the future of business.

If you are interested in hiring an artificial intelligence speaker, like Melanie Perkins, contact The AI Speakers Agency today! Call one of our dedicated booking agents on 0203 4109897 or complete our online contact form to begin the booking process.