Prior to his election to parliament, Reynolds held the positions of Director, Northern Australia Social Research Institute and Director, Centre for Social and Welfare Research, both at James Cook University.

Mike Reynolds' local government service has included 16 years as a member of the Townsville City Council.

[1] Reynolds also acted as Chair of the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee on Child Care from 1991 to 1992, was a member of the Queensland Pacific Technology Program Committee in the Premiers Department from 1991 to 1992 and also was Chairman of the ACT Vocational Training Authority from 1992 to 1995.

Reynolds was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Birthday Honours, for promoting relations between Queensland and Papua New Guinea, including as Mayor of Townsville and as Patron of YWAM Medical Ships Programme, nominated by the Papua New Guinea Government.

[2] Reynolds is the co-author of the following books - The Great Divide: A Comparative Social Profile of Northern and Southern Australia (with D Lavery, 1997); Achieving Local Ownership of National Goals for the Coastal Zone (with L Cutts and D Osborn, 1993); Education and Training for Local Government Employees in Queensland (with V Valentine, 1992).