[2] Heard's first state representative selection came in 2002 to the Victorian youth eight contesting the Bicentennial Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.

[2] Heard was selected in Victorian senior women's eights to contest the Queen's Cup at the Australian Championships on six consecutive occasions from 2004 to 2009.

[2] Heard first represented for Australia contesting the 2004 World Rowing U23 Championships in Poznan, Poland in a coxless pair.

She came into contention to lead the Australian eight and at the World Rowing Cups I and II she stroked the crew to a fourth and then a first place.

In the bow seat of the coxless four with Pauline Frasca, Sarah Cook and Kate Hornsey, Heard brought home her third World Championship medal – this time a silver.