I went to the Graphite Conference in Perth last year. The range...

I went to the Graphite Conference in Perth last year. The range of companies presenting were at different stages in the development life cycle. Some would have been still defining their initial resources, others much more advanced. There different levels of risk for each that would attract different investors.

Some anecdotes:

• I went because I wanted to meet management of two of the companies presenting. Ultimately I eventually sold out of one of them (not BAT) because I realised the MD wasn't much of a people person ( after meeting them ), various other reasons but that was part of my decision.
• I was more risk averse at that stage. Listened to a presentation from a less-advanced play. Ultimately (over several months afterwards) decided to invest and I now have a reasonable stake.

Point is that these events do get a mixed audience. Some investors will be looking for earlier plays with greater upside. Others would be looking for more advanced projects and lower risk with near-term upside. Some people will want to met/greet management.

Retail investors attend, brokers attend, instos attend. Some might just be window shopping (as I was partly doing), but they could be or help with the connections for an important/significant investor down the track. So getting the word out is important.

Financiers may even be present, or networking could take place that helps with that need.