Dr Heppner grew up in Auckland where he completed secondary education before going to Auckland Medical School. His neurosurgical training was undertaken in Auckland (Auckland City Hospital) and Sydney, Australia (Royal Prince Alfred and Royal North Shore Hospitals).

After this he completed Advanced Fellowships in Complex Spine Surgery at Westmead Hospital (Sydney) and in Paediatric Neurosurgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Dr Heppner has practiced as a Consultant Neurosurgeon since 2007 and was appointed Head of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Starship Hospital, Auckland, in 2015. He has a strong focus on teaching and was the Supervisor of Advanced Training in Neurosurgery at Auckland City Hospital from 2012 to 2015. He remains on the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Examination Committee.

Dr Heppner was recently elected to the Board of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.

His national and international professional associations include:

• New Zealand Medical Council (NZMC)
• Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
• International Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN)
• Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO)
• International League against Epilepsy (ILAE)