Joyce has been a local government Chief Executive for 15 years serving three different types of councils.

Her first role as Chief Executive was to create the new unitary authority of Monmouthshire in South Wales. She then moved to the larger, strategic neighbouring authority of Gloucestershire County Council and joined Wigan, a large metropolitan authority, in May 2005.

She has now taken on the role of Chief Executive of the Ashton, Wigan & Leigh PCT in one of the few shared LA/Health arrangements focused on place. This arrangement will continue as part of the Greater Manchester cluster.

In 2009 Joyce was awarded a CBE for Services to Local Government.