Philip Follent was one of the youngest architects elevated to the position of Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1989. He was Queensland State Director and later National jury member for the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Awards Program; his architectural practice earlier winning over twenty architectural awards. In 1996 he was declared Lecturer of the Year across all campuses at the Queensland University of Technology.

He was honoured with Life Fellowship in August 2007 for exemplary contribution to the architectural profession, particularly in the area of social, environmental and heritage advocacy, design expertise and an inspired approach to urban development.