PDAC 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest mining conferences of the year. With thousands of investors, junior mining companies, and service providers converging in Toronto, it’s the perfect opportunity to secure critical business partnerships. But here’s the catch: the best meeting slots fill up fast.
If you’re planning to attend PDAC 2026, the time to start booking investor and client meetings isn’t in February – it’s right now, in Q4 2025. Companies that wait until the conference kicks off often find themselves competing for leftover time slots or scrambling to connect with key contacts.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the strategic process of booking investor and client meetings well before PDAC 2026, so you can maximize your conference ROI and ensure you’re meeting the right people at the right time.
Why Early Meeting Booking Matters for PDAC 2026
PDAC 2026 draws approximately 30,000+ attendees from around the world, making it the largest mining convention globally. With that volume comes incredible opportunity—but also intense competition for face time with investors, analysts, and potential partners.
Early meeting booking gives you several competitive advantages:
Better Meeting Slots: The best time slots (morning, mid-day) book out weeks in advance. By starting in October or November, you’ll have access to premium times that work best for your team and your targets.
Focused Investor Attention: Investors who schedule meetings pre-conference are typically more prepared and focused. They’ve already planned their conference strategy and aren’t overbooked or exhausted from back-to-back meetings.
Higher Attendance Rates: Pre-scheduled meetings have significantly higher attendance rates than spontaneous conference conversations. When someone commits to a calendar appointment in advance, they’re more likely to show up.
Better Preparation: With confirmed meetings weeks in advance, both you and your meeting partner have time to prepare materials, review financials, understand project details, and ask better questions.
Reduced On-Site Stress: Wandering the conference floor trying to secure meetings is stressful and often unproductive. Having your calendar mapped out in advance lets you focus on meaningful conversations rather than logistics.
Step 1: Identify and Qualify Your Target Contacts
Before you start reaching out for meetings, you need a clear list of who you want to meet.
Create a Target Investor List
Research investors and analysts who have a track record in your sector. Look for:
- Junior mining investors
- Venture capital firms focused on mining
- Equity research analysts covering your commodity
- Institutional investors with mining exposure
- Debt providers
Use LinkedIn, mining industry databases, and conference attendee lists (many are published online in advance). If your company is raising capital or seeking partnerships, prioritize investors who have funded similar projects or invested in your specific commodity.
Identify Key Clients and Partners
Beyond investors, consider:
- Potential customers for your products or services
- Strategic partners who complement your operations
- Supply chain vendors or distributors
- Equipment providers or technology partners
- Government representatives or regulatory contacts
Segment Your Contacts
Not all meetings are created equal. Create tiers:
- Tier 1 (Critical): Must-meet contacts. Priority slots for these.
- Tier 2 (Important): Good opportunities but not essential.
- Tier 3 (Nice-to-have): Exploratory conversations.
This prioritization ensures you don’t waste prime meeting times on low-priority contacts.
Step 2: Research Attendee Lists and Create Your Outreach List
Many PDAC 2026 sponsors and service providers publish attendee lists weeks or months before the conference. Additionally, you can often find which companies and investors are exhibiting or speaking on the PDAC 2026 website.
Where to Find PDAC 2026 Attendee Information
- PDAC’s Official Website – typically posts speaker lists, exhibitor lists, and event schedules in January/February
- LinkedIn – search for people using the keyword “PDAC 2026” or “Prospectors Developers Association”
- Mining-focused LinkedIn groups and forums
- Industry databases and research platforms
- Direct outreach to investor relations departments at target companies
Build Your Outreach Spreadsheet
Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for:
- Contact name
- Title/Role
- Company
- Email address
- Phone number
- Tier (1, 2, or 3)
- Notes on connection (what you want to discuss)
- Date contacted
- Response status
This keeps you organized and helps you track follow-ups.
Step 3: Start Your Outreach Early (October/November for PDAC 2026)
The best time to reach out for PDAC 2026 meetings is now. Here’s a timeline to follow:
- October-November: Initial outreach wave
- December: Follow-ups on initial outreach + second wave
- January: Final confirmation and reminder outreach
Craft Your Outreach Email
Keep your email concise, personalized, and specific. Here’s a template:
Subject Line: “PDAC 2026 Meeting Request: [Your Company Name]”
Hi [First Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I’m reaching out to see if you’d be open to connecting at PDAC 2026 in Toronto (March 2-5, 2026).
[Your Company] is [brief description of what you do/what makes you unique]. As a specialized staffing partner to the mining industry for 45 years, we’ve helped companies like yours overcome critical talent challenges. Given your expertise in [their sector/investment focus], I think a conversation would be valuable. We’re particularly interested in discussing [specific topic relevant to them].
Would you have 20-30 minutes available for a coffee or brief meeting during PDAC 2026? We’re flexible on timing and happy to work around your schedule.
Looking forward to connecting.
Best regards,
[Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Company] [Phone] [Email]
Personalization Tips:
- Reference something specific they’ve done (invested in, spoken about, published)
- Explain why you want to meet them specifically, not just any investor
- Keep it short—busy investors skim emails
- Include a clear call-to-action
Use LinkedIn for Warm Outreach
If you don’t have direct email addresses, use LinkedIn to request meetings or send messages. Many professionals will respond to warm outreach on LinkedIn, especially if you have mutual connections.
Step 4: Leverage PDAC 2026’s Scheduling Tools and Services
PDAC 2026 itself often provides networking tools to help facilitate meetings.
Check PDAC 2026’s Official Platform
PDAC 2026 sometimes offers a meeting scheduling platform or networking app where registered attendees can browse profiles and request meetings. Monitor the PDAC website in December 2025/January 2026 for announcements about these tools.
Use Mining Conference Apps
Third-party apps like Eventpoint, Attendify, or similar platforms may integrate with PDAC 2026. These allow you to browse attendees, create meeting requests, and schedule meetings directly.
Step 5: Send Calendar Invitations and Confirm Logistics
Once someone agrees to meet, move quickly to secure the commitment with a calendar invitation.
Include in Your Calendar Invite
- Specific date and time
- Duration (20-30 minutes is standard)
- Location (your booth, conference meeting room, nearby coffee shop)
- Video call option (in case they can’t make it in person)
- Agenda or topics to discuss (3-4 bullet points)
- Your phone number in case they need to reschedule
Example Calendar Invite
Meeting Title: “PDAC 2026: TPD Discussion”
Time: March 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST Location: TPD Booth #[X], Metro Toronto Convention Centre OR Coffee in lobby area
Agenda:
- TPD’s workforce solutions for the mining industry
- Q3 2026 milestones and talent challenges
- Partnership opportunities
- Next steps
Let me know if you need to reschedule or if you have questions.
Send Confirmation Reminders
- First reminder: 2 weeks before the conference
- Second reminder: 3 days before PDAC 2026
- Final reminder: 1 day before with your mobile phone number
Step 6: Prepare Materials for Your Meetings
Don’t show up empty-handed. Have materials ready that you can share or discuss.
Essential Materials to Prepare
- One-pager or executive summary of your company/project
- Pitch deck (short version for 20-minute meetings)
- Financial projections (if seeking investment)
- Technical summary of your project or product
- Case studies from similar mining clients (with confidentiality maintained)
- Business cards (bring extras, you’ll need them)
- Slide deck for booth presentations (if applicable)
- Contact info sheet with key team members’ details
Tailor Materials by Meeting Type
Don’t give every investor the same materials. Customize:
- For investors: Focus on ROI, risk mitigation, and growth potential
- For clients: Highlight product/service benefits, case studies, and pricing
- For partners: Emphasize complementary strengths and synergies
Step 7: Follow Up After PDAC 2026
The real work happens after the conference ends.
Follow-Up Timeline
- Within 24 hours: Send a thank-you email referencing specific discussion points
- Within 1 week: Send promised materials or information
- Within 10 business days: Schedule next steps (second meeting, proposal, etc.)
Follow-Up Email Template
Hi [First Name],
It was great connecting with you at PDAC 2026 on March [date]. I really enjoyed discussing [specific topic] and learning more about [their focus/company].
As promised, I’ve attached [material/document]. I’d love to continue the conversation—[specific next step, e.g., “Would a follow-up call next week work for you?” or “I’ll send over the proposal by Friday.”]
Looking forward to exploring this opportunity further.
Best regards, [Your Name]
Pro Tips for Maximizing Your PDAC 2026 Meetings
Space Out Your Meetings
Don’t schedule back-to-back 10 meetings in one day. Leave breathing room (30 minutes between meetings) so you’re not exhausted and can actually focus on each conversation.
Mix Meeting Formats
Combine scheduled meetings with booth drop-ins and casual networking. Scheduled meetings show professionalism, but some of the best connections happen organically at the bar or conference social.
Have Your Elevator Pitch Ready
You’ll meet dozens of people at PDAC 2026. Have a 30-second explanation of your company and what makes you unique. Practice it.
Bring a Co-Worker or Colleague
Having a colleague in meetings is helpful for note-taking and provides different perspectives. It also helps you cover more ground at the conference.
Use PDAC 2026 Sessions Strategically
Attend talks relevant to your targets. It gives you a conversation starter and shows you’re engaged with the industry.
Collect Business Cards
Take notes on the back of business cards immediately after meetings (what you discussed, what they’re interested in, follow-up items). Your future self will thank you.
Connect with TPD at PDAC 2026
As a specialized staffing and recruitment partner to the mining industry for 45 years, TPD will be at PDAC 2026 to meet with mining companies seeking workforce solutions. Whether you’re facing talent shortages, need contract staffing support, or want to discuss recruitment strategies for technical roles, our team is ready to help.
We’re particularly interested in connecting with:
- HR and talent acquisition leaders
- Operations executives facing skilled labor challenges
- Mining companies expanding their Canadian operations
- Organizations seeking specialized recruitment partners with deep mining industry expertise
If you’re planning to attend PDAC 2026, we’d love to schedule a meeting with you. Our team is booking meetings now to ensure we have time for meaningful conversations.
Schedule a meeting with our VP of Mining Search, Elena Romero, here.
Final Thoughts
PDAC 2026 is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with decision-makers in the mining industry. But opportunity only favors the prepared. By starting your outreach now, in Q4 2025, you’ll secure the best meeting slots, attract more focused investors and clients, and maximize your conference ROI.
Don’t wait until March. Start building your PDAC 2026 meeting strategy today.
Questions about PDAC 2026 meeting strategy?
Reach out to our mining team, or connect with us at the conference.
PDAC 2026 takes place March 2-5, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. For more information, visit pdac.ca.