Cliff Obrecht
Co-founder & COO, Canva
Clifford Obrecht is an Australian technology entrepreneur, co-founder and chief operating officer of Canva, the online graphic-design platform. With his business and life partner Melanie Perkins, he first co-founded the online yearbook business Fusion Books in 2007 before launching Canva in 2013. He leads Canva's operations, partnerships and dealmaking.
Fast facts
| Role | Co-founder & COO |
|---|---|
| Company | Canva |
| Sector | Design software / SaaS |
| Headquarters | NSW |
| In role since | 2013 |
| Education | University of Western Australia (Bachelor of Arts and Education) |
| Other roles | Signatory of The Giving Pledge |
Background
Co-founded Fusion Books (2007) and Canva (2013) with partner Melanie Perkins; leads Canva operations and dealmaking
Career timeline
- 2007Co-founded Fusion Books, an online yearbook design tool, with Melanie Perkins
- 2013Co-founded Canva, becoming chief operating officer
- 2021Married Melanie Perkins and signed the Giving Pledge
- 2025Canva valued by private investors at around US$42 billion
Notable
- Grew up in Kingsley, a suburb north of Perth, Western Australia
- Co-founded Fusion Books, which grew into one of the largest yearbook companies in Australia and New Zealand
- As COO, has driven Canva's scaling, operations, partnerships and global expansion
- Pledged with Melanie Perkins to direct the vast majority of their Canva stake to charitable causes via the Canva Foundation
- Holds a substantial ownership stake in Canva, making him a billionaire on paper
Frequently asked questions
What is Cliff Obrecht's role at Canva?
He is co-founder and chief operating officer, responsible for operations, partnerships and dealmaking.
What did Cliff Obrecht do before Canva?
He co-founded the online yearbook company Fusion Books in 2007 with Melanie Perkins, which served as a proof of concept for Canva.
Is Cliff Obrecht married to Melanie Perkins?
Yes, he married Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins in January 2021.
Public profiles
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canva
- https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2022/november/canvas-cliff-obrecht-talks-start-ups
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Obrecht
- https://www.forbes.com/profile/cliff-obrecht/
- https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/author/cliff/
Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.