Heather is a trained nurse working in the field of child and family health, and has taught at a tertiary level in health services, as well as working as a manager with a Māori Development Organisation and in primary health care.

She has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health at Otago University, a Masters in Public Health from the same university and a PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship with Te Pūmanawa Hauora, the Research Centre for Māori Health and Development, Massey University.