Professor Reeves is a distinguished international leader in agricultural research, development and extension. He was a pioneer of no-till and sustainable agriculture at the Rutherglen Research Institute in north-eastern Victoria and has held a high number of senior international roles including as Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in Mexico from 1995-2002.

In recent years some of the many roles he has undertaken include: Member, United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Hunger; Member Senior Expert, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations including as an author of ‘Save and Grow’ - Sustainable Intensification for Smallholder Farmers.

In 2017 he received the C M Donald Medal from the Australian Society of Agronomy, its most prestigious award for lifetime achievements. In 2019 he was awarded the Farrer Medal for his lifetime contributions to agricultural science.

He is currently Professor in Residence Dookie Campus at University of Melbourne.