Pearl Tan was born in Perth, Western Australia. She is the founder and director of Pearly Productions, creating independent films with a focus on diversity.
She was named one of the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence in 2016 and delivered a TEDx talk on reimagining diversity in 2017. She is the creator behind the award-winning YouTube series ‘Minority Box’, and directed the feature film ‘The Casting Game’ in 2017.
In 2014, Pearl co-founded the Equity Diversity Committee and held the position of Co-Chair for two years. She sits on board for the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and on the National Performers Committee for Actors Equity. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) Acting course in 2005 and also holds a Communications degree majoring in Media Studies from Edith Cowan University. In 2009, she received a Mike Walsh Fellowship to attend the New York Film Academy. In 2016, she completed a Master of Commerce on a Business Leader Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Sydney.
She is currently the Discipline Lead, Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and moonlights as a presenter for ABC Radio.