The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has inducted Peter Brewer and Doug Disher as Life Members – its highest honour – recognising more than 80 years of combined service to Queensland real estate.
Peter Brewer chaired the REIQ until October 2025 and championed a member-first approach, while Doug Disher has run an independent agency in Toowong for 30 years and was awarded REIQ Fellowship in 2015.
The REIQ Board of Directors confirmed the induction at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting, where the pair were formally welcomed. REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said their contributions extended well beyond their own businesses.
“With more than 80 years in real estate between them, Peter and Doug have each made an extraordinary contribution to our profession and to the REIQ over many decades,” Antonia said. “Both have generously given their time, energy, knowledge and experience well beyond the bounds of their own businesses, and our profession is richer for their lifelong efforts.”
Peter Brewer began his real estate career in 1981 as an island salesperson with Ray White before returning to the mainland to join his parents’ family business in Manly, which he purchased with his then-partner in 1991. He went on to chair The Professionals Real Estate Group board for a decade, was elected to the REIQ Board in 2014, and served as REIQ Chairman from April 2018 until his retirement in October 2025.
Antonia said Peter had never been afraid to challenge the Institute’s thinking, always pushing them to consider what was next for the profession.
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“But for Peter, it always came back to the members. He genuinely never lost sight of the people at the heart of our profession and the Institute, and that member-first mindset is an important part of his leadership legacy,” Antonia said.
Accepting his certificate at REIQ headquarters, Peter reflected on his parents, Don and Iris, who helped shape his approach to the business. “They taught me that success isn’t measured by the number of properties you sell or the titles you collect. It’s measured by the difference you make in people’s lives,” he said.
Doug Disher began his real estate career in 1985 and joined the REIQ in January 1990. He established Doug Disher Real Estate in Toowong in 1995, where the independent agency has now operated for more than 30 years.
Antonia said Doug’s philosophy of “property properly” sums up his career beautifully: a steadfast belief in conducting real estate professionally, ethically and with respect for everyone involved.
Doug said he could not imagine running his business without the Institute’s support. “I can’t imagine running a real estate business without the support and leadership of the REIQ. Throughout my membership, the Institute has been a strong voice for our profession, working with governments and helping us work through the many challenges we’ve faced,” he said. “I think this award is as much a tribute to the REIQ as it is to me, after all, they’ve kept me happily paying my membership fees since 1990!”
