The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has appointed Diane Brisebois as acting chief executive officer, effective immediately, while interim CEO Cathy Polan remains on a leave of absence.
Brisebois spent over 30 years as president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), retiring from that role in 2025, according to RCC’s website.
Leadership Experience
Brisebois brings more than 40 years of experience as an association CEO, with a background in guiding teams and organizations through growth, said OREA President Kim Fairley.
Her experience includes guiding organizations while keeping member value at the forefront, Fairley added.
In her acting role, Brisebois will lead OREA’s efforts to advocate on behalf of nearly 100,000 Realtor members and support them in their mission to build stronger communities across Ontario.
As an award-winning association CEO, Brisebois has a proven track record of empowering teams, supporting strong employee relations, and strategically guiding organizations through transformational growth while keeping member value at the absolute forefront.
Her dynamic executive leadership, governance, advocacy, and stakeholder relations experience from national industry associations will be invaluable in her new role, particularly during Interim CEO Cathy Polan’s leave of absence.
Search for Permanent CEO
The appointment of Brisebois adds a third name to the recent leadership changes at OREA, which has seen Luigi Favaro and Cathy Polan take on CEO roles in the past year.
Favaro was appointed CEO in July 2025 but took a leave of absence that November and later departed permanently.
Polan, a Belleville, Ont.-based real estate agent, then took over as interim CEO before beginning her own leave of absence.
The board is continuing the search for a permanent chief executive with leadership advisory firm Odgers, a process that launched in late June with a July 24 application deadline.
As the search continues, Brisebois will provide continuity of leadership and organizational stability, Fairley said.
OREA looks forward to working with Brisebois to advocate for higher professional standards in real estate and fight to keep the dream of homeownership alive, Fairley added.
OREA’s president expressed confidence in Brisebois‘s ability to lead the organization during this period, citing her extensive experience and leadership skills.
