Indigenous Youth and Early Career Ambassador Program

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous youth and early career professionals in exploring the opportunities generated by the mineral industry.

This Program aims to connect Indigenous youth and early career professionals from across Canada to the world’s premier mineral exploration and mining convention. It is the PDAC’s hope that becoming an Ambassador will inspire careers in the mineral industry, and provide Ambassadors with valuable networking opportunities and new insights into the PDAC and the mineral industry to take back to their communities and organizations.

Ambassador Applications for PDAC 2026 are now closed.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must:

• Be an Indigenous person in Canada (First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis) aged 19-30 (as of the first date of convention).
• Have demonstrated or proven interest in the mineral industry (some experience engaging with or participating in the mineral industry is preferred)
• Show commitment to their community, as demonstrated by actions such as volunteerism
• Preference will be given to PDAC Individual and Student Members in good standing, or nominations made by PDAC Corporate Members in good standing
• Previously successful Ambassadors are not eligible for nomination 

Guidelines

1. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by their community or an organization within the mineral industry. If an individual is nominated by a third party, the candidate must consent to the nomination.
2. Candidates and/or their nominator(s) must be able to cover any remaining expenses that exceed the funding provided by the PDAC.
3. Application forms are accepted on an ongoing basis. Review of applications and selection of Ambassadors will begin October 1st and continue until the program is full.
4. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Funding and Opportunities

Ambassadors will be selected by the PDAC Indigenous Affairs Committee. All outcomes of the selection process will be considered final.

Successful Ambassadors will receive:

• A complimentary All Access Pass to the PDAC Convention
• Priority access to the Indigenous Program Reception
• An exclusive invitation to select events around convention
• Financial assistance to support travel and accommodation expenses incurred while attending convention
• Unique mentoring opportunities

Approved funding will be based on the number of applications per year. The PDAC reserves the right to refuse any application and retains sole discretion to determine approved funding amounts.

• Application must include estimates of travel expenses.
• Funds will be distributed before convention