[5] Heylings was born in Kingston upon Hull,[1] her mother a nurse and her father a GP, and grew up with three brothers.

In 1997, Heylings graduated from Rhodes University in South Africa with a master's degree in environmental education.

[7] She gave her maiden speech on 26 July 2024 [10], and resigned her seat on the South Cambridgeshire District Council a few months later.

She was later appointed as the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero in September 2024.

[11] In November 2024, Heylings voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted suicide, citing her reasons on her website.