Curriculum Vitae

QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Chapter Councillor, Australian Institute of Architects
  • Member Urban Design Alliance Queensland
  • Member Queensland Design Council
  • Chair of the Queensland Board for Urban Places (2009-2011)
  • Award: Life Fellow of the RAIA 2007
  • Award: Lecturer of the Year QUT 1996
  • Nominated Gold Coast Citizen of the Year 1995
  • Registered Architect QLD 1980 and NSW in 1982
  • Associate Royal Australian Institute of Architects 1980
  • Bachelor of Architecture, University of Qld 1978
  • Bachelor of Design Studies, University of Qld 1974
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2013– Director Follent, architecture + city shaping + master planning + peer review
2010–2013 Head of School Abedian School of Architecture Bond University
2008–2011 Queensland Government Architect
2003–2008 City Architect, Gold Coast City Council
2000–2003 Coordinator Urban Design, Cultural Heritage & Landscape Unit, GCCC
1982–2003 Private Architectural Practice, Philip Follent Architects Pty Ltd – Director
1992–1999 Queensland University of Technology, Lecturer
1979–1982 Davis Heather Group Pty Ltd, Architect
1977–1979 Geoffrey Pie Architect Planners Pty Ltd, Graduate Architect
1974–1975 James Birrell, Architect – Student Architect
CONTRIBUTING POSITIONS
2024– Co-director – RAIA State Awards 2025
2024– Jury Chair – RAIA Queensland Awards
2018–2022 Committee Member – Gold Coast Open House
2015–2019 Board Chairman – Swell Sculpture Festival
2013–2015 NFP, Three Community Organisations Committee Member
2013–2015 Gold Coast City Council, Public Art Policy Advisory Panel
2012 Juror, RAIA National Awards
2012–2015 Swell Sculpture Curatorial Panel
2011+2013 Juror, Public Domain Awards CCAA
2007–2015 Conference Speaker
2011 Brisbane Open House – Co-initiator with BDA
2010–2013 Queensland Design Council
2003–2010 Adjunct Professor of Architecture, QUT
2002 Director, RAIA State Awards
2001 Deputy Director, RAIA State Awards
1997–2000 Gold Coast City Council Urban Design Advisory Committee, QUT Representative
1994–1995 Gold Coast Regional Economic Forum – Environmental Representative
1993–1995 Project Coordinator of Friends of Currumbin
1989 Founding Member of GECKO (Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council)
1987–1993 President of Friends of Currumbin

Awards

2022 RAIA Gold Coast & Northern Rivers Building of the Year Award. Named in Perpetuality (Philip Follent Building of the Year Award)
2022 RAIA – State Award + Commendation – MYAC Arrival Facilities
2022 RAIA – Regional Commendations – MYAC Arrival Facilities
2020 PIA National Awards Winner – MYAC Eco-Cultural Infrastructure Master Plan
2019 PIA Qld Awards Winner – Mundingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC) Eco-Cultural Infrastructure Master Plan
2017 Tropical Urbanism Cairns City Image Study National winner PIA great ideas small projects Award
2004 RAIA Qld – State Commendation – “the T house”, Surfers Paradise
2001 Winner – Casuarina Beach – Ultimate Beach House
2000 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “EcOasis Cabins”, Uki
1999 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “Home Office”, Wilston, Brisbane
1999 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “Riverside Lanai”, Sorrento
1999 RAIA Qld – Robin Dods Award – House of the Year – “Home Office”
1998 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “The Tallai House” Tallai
1998 External Examiner – University of Technology, Sydney
1997 External Examiner – University of Technology, Sydney
1996 Philip Follent: Declared Lecturer of the Year – Qld University of Technology across all campuses.
1996 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “The Garner Residence”, Brisbane
1995 Philip Follent: Nominated Citizen of the Year – Gold Coast
1995 RAIA – Regional Commendation – “The Tank House”
1995 RAIA Qld – State Commendation – Environmental Commendation – “The Tank House”
1993 RAIA Regional Award Building of the Year – “Currumbin Sanctuary Conference Centre”
1993 RAIA – Regional Citation – “Southport Special School”
1993 RAIA Qld – State Award – “Currumbin Sanctuary Conference Centre” (Recycled Building)
1992 Twin Towns Towards 2000 Winner – Urban Design Competition to revitalise Coolangatta – Tweed Heads
1991 RAIA Regional Award – Building of the Year Award – “The Tomewin House”
1991 RAIA Qld – Finalist “The Tomewin House”
1991 RAIA Qld – Finalist “The Elephant Rock Cafe”
1991 Belle Magazine – “Australia’s House of the Year”
1990 RAIA Regional Award – Supreme Award for Meritorious Architecture “Elephant Rock Cafe” Currumbin
1989 RAIA Regional Award – Building of the Year, “The Red House” Mudgeeraba
1987 RAIA / Monier Design Commission – Australian House Design: Winner
1986 RAIA – Regional Citation – Currumbin Sanctuary Playpark
1984 RAIA Qld – House of The Year Award, McPherson Ranges House
1984 Royal Australian Institute of Architects National Awards Finalist – Robin Boyd Award

Testimonials – What other people think

Phil is an inspirational and dynamic speaker and he engages his audiences, whoever they may be. I have had the pleasure of attending Phil’s presentations on a number of very different occasions, with very different audiences: professional architects, planners and industry leaders, members of local communities and Griffith University Urban and Environmental Planning second year students. Phil’s knowledge of and passion for the Gold Coast and his commitment to excellent design and cultural, social and environmental outcomes makes him a transformative educator and a public speaker of note.

Dr Caryl Bosman

Urban & Environmental Planning Griffith University

Forthright, principled and astute, Philip Follent is recognised as a champion of the need to defend the physical and cultural heritage of the built environment while advancing the cause of creating and sustaining high quality urban settings and civic spaces. He has been relentless in arguing for best outcomes and has generated many initiatives to enrich the wider understanding of the nature and value of high quality design. His legacy achievements include his contribution as the Foundation Professor for the Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University and his direction of the design competition that led to the construction of the inspiring Architecture School building at Bond designed by Sir Peter Cook and CRAB Studio. He provided significant leadership as the Queensland Government Architect and generated a series of initiatives that consolidated the role of that position. Even more telling has been his career long contribution to strengthening the standing of the profession of architecture in the City of the Gold Coast. His advocacy and unrelenting articulation of the need to protect the unique characteristics of the region have made a significant and influential contribution to public debate concerning the future nature and form of the City of the Gold Coast and its public realm. Unquestionably, he has made an outstanding personal contribution to the enrichment of the natural and built environment of Queensland.
Michael Keniger

Professor of Architecture, Bond University and former Queensland Government Architect

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