Meet Farrah King: On learning, teaching, and joining the Canvas team

The Canvas APAC team is growing, and we’re thrilled to introduce our new Global Growth Product Marketing Manager, Farrah King! Based in Melbourne, Farrah brings a wealth of experience in product management, a deep passion for education technology, and an eagerness to support educators and institutions across the region. We hope you enjoy getting to know her better—we sure did!

Q: What drew you to Canvas and this role?

A: I’ve always been drawn to education and technology, and this role is such a great opportunity to bring those two worlds together. The first few weeks have felt like piecing together a puzzle—each new piece of information helps me better understand how everything fits together. It’s been a lot to take in, but I have had the best onboarding experience ever.

Q: How has your transition into the role been so far?

A: It’s been exciting and fast-paced! There’s a lot to learn, but I’ve been focused on understanding our products more deeply, meeting the teams, and preparing for my first product update meeting. Everyone has been incredibly helpful, which has made the transition easier.

Q: You have experience as an educator yourself. How has that shaped your approach?

A: I still teach sessionally for an Australian university, which keeps me connected to the student experience. I teach two units—one for new students, helping them build academic skills like research and writing, and another for graduating students, focused on career readiness. 

I love that both are practical and help students apply what they’re learning. That hands-on teaching experience informs my approach to edtech—I understand the challenges educators face because I’ve been there.

Q: Why is accessibility such an important focus for you?

A: For me, a great learning experience should be designed with all learners in mind. I’ve always believed that when you focus on getting the learning experience right, the technology can enhance and support it beautifully. It’s about ensuring that what we build is truly useful and accessible for as many people as possible.

Q: What excites you most about working in education technology?

A: Right now, I’m particularly interested in how AI is prompting institutions to rethink assessment. There are big conversations happening about why we’re assessing things that AI can already do. It’s an exciting time to explore how we shift from focusing on the ‘how’ to the ‘why’ of assessment, and I’m keen to see how institutions approach this challenge.

Q: How has your experience across different education settings influenced your perspective?

A: I’ve worked in primary schools, vocational education, and higher education, as well as in professional learning. Having that range of experience helps me understand the different challenges educators and administrators face at each level, from classroom teaching to large-scale institutional needs. It also means I’ve seen firsthand how educators adapt to change, which is something I keep in mind in this role.

Q: What’s your approach to product management, and how do you ensure customer needs are met?

A: A big part of my role is about making sure that the voices of educators and institutions are reflected in the decisions we make. I want to engage closely with our customers, understand their challenges, and ensure that what we’re delivering truly supports their teaching and learning goals.

Q: You talk a lot about putting yourself in the shoes of the learner. Why is that so important to you?

A: It’s easy to get caught up in our own perspective as educators or administrators, but at the end of the day, there’s an end user—the learner. I always say: design for lurkers. I’m a lurker myself! Even if someone isn’t actively posting or engaging, they’re still consuming everything, and we need to design learning experiences that cater to them as well.

Q: What’s something that might surprise people about you?

A: Probably that I still teach! A lot of people are surprised when they find out I teach two university units alongside my full-time role. It’s something I really enjoy because it keeps me connected to the student experience and the realities of learning today. 

Also, fun fact—I originally studied political science and once joked that I was going to work at the "political science factory." Towards the end of my degree, I realised it was making me far too cynical, so I pivoted into education instead. Best decision ever!

Q: If you could have any superpower related to education, what would it be and why?

A: This is the teacher in me: I’d love to be able to automatically differentiate learning. When you’re trying to teach a concept, students engage in different ways, and it would be amazing to instantly provide multiple ways of explaining something. 

I used to do this when I was teaching grade 5 and 6. I'd have a base lesson but also prepare differentiated content for different learners. In higher ed, I do the same by offering extra resources when students need more depth or a different approach. If there were a way to streamline that, so students could "choose their own adventure" and engage with content in the way that makes the most sense to them, it would be incredible!

Q: What’s next for you in this role?

A: Right now, I’m diving into my first product update meetings, learning more about the roadmap, and getting to know our amazing customers. Long term, I want to focus on ensuring that customers in APAC feel heard and that their insights shape how we continue to develop Canvas. There’s so much happening in the edtech space, and I’m excited to be part of it!

We’re excited, too. Welcome to the team, Farrah.