Christchurch architect Sir Miles Warren has been honoured at Christ's College this morning ahead of an Emerging Leaders Conference.

Around 350 year 12 students from 23 secondary schools across Canterbury will take part in the fourth annual conference, hosted by Christ's College.

At a special school assembly before the conference opening, Warren, an old boy of Christ's College, was presented with the 2012 Christ's College Leadership Medal.

Each year the award goes to an old boy who had shown distinction in his professional, academic or commercial life.

For many years Warren was Christ's College's architect and designed many of the buildings at the school, including the Chapman Block, the library and the Tothill Science Block.

The modernist architect's other famous designs include the Christchurch Town Hall, College House and the Dorset St flats.

Headmaster Simon Leese said Warren was "one of the most prominent and innovative leaders of his profession". He had played an integral role in the strengthening of Christ's College's buildings.

"It is widely recognised that it was Sir Miles' insistence that persuaded the board of the college to embark on several phases of strengthening the college's buildings, which alone enabled our campus through as well as it has, with stone heritage preserved and with the safety of all involved.

"We owe him a debt of gratitude for his professionalism and leadership over a long period of our school's history."

Previous recipients of the leadership medal have been businessman Sir John Anderson, head of Civil Defence and former Air Force chief John Hamilton and eminent virologist Professor Lance Jennings.

The day-long leaders conference focuses on leadership skills, teamwork and challenge, while participants will be given opportunities to identify leadership in all its forms.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive Roger Sutton, Dr Rachel McNae of Waikato University and Young New Zealander of the Year Sam Johnson are keynote speakers.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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