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Former New Zealand and Otago cricketer Warren Lees will be the keynote speaker at the regional sports directors annual conference in Dunedin this week.
Lees, named the captain of Otago cricket's greatest XI as part of an Otago Daily Times project in 2010, also coached New Zealand and was a successful secondary school teacher.
The three-day conference starts at the Leisure Lodge today and will be attended by the 30 regional sports directors.
''I am thrilled about the quality of the outside speakers we have for the conference,'' New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council operations manager Des Smith told the Otago Daily Times.
Other influential people in New Zealand sport who will speak at the conference include Jock Murley (Volleyball New Zealand), Brett Reid (Triathlon New Zealand), and Mark Lane (New Zealand Cricket).
''The conference covers every school in New Zealand because each regional director has the responsibility for so many schools,'' Smith said.
''In Otago, Nicki Paterson looks after 23 schools.''
A feature of the conference will be a tour around the sports facilities that are being put in place at Logan Park.
''This is important because we want secondary schools and the local communities to share facilities.
''It is something we want to grow.''
The conference has an Otago flavour and will include a visit to the Speight's boardroom for drinks and a visit to Forsyth Barr Stadium to watch the Highlanders play the Sharks.