Philip Follent was Gold Coast City Council’s first City Architect (2003 -2008), later appointed Queensland Government Architect (2008-2011). Philip became the inaugural chair of the Queensland Board for Urban Places and inaugural member of the Queensland Design Council. He became the founding Head of the Soheil Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University in 2011. Philip’s architectural practice has won numerous awards, and he has been declared Lecturer of the Year at Queensland University of Technology across all campuses. He also received the Excellence in Teaching Award in the School of Sustainable Development and Architecture at Bond University. Philip is Chair of the Swell Sculpture Festival, executive member of Friends of Currumbin and Tugun Progress Association and a tireless advocate for sustainable city shaping and environmental stewardship.