Wainwright was Richard Maclaurin Goodfellow Professor in Theology at the University of Auckland until her retirement at the end of 2014.
She is known for her feminist scholarship in Matthew's gospel, and work on gender and healing within the Graeco-Roman world.
Wainwright initially studied at the University of Queensland and then obtained a master's degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a PhD at the École Biblique in Jerusalem.
[6] Wainwright, Elaine M. Habitat, Human, and Holy: An Eco-Rhetorical Reading of the Gospel of Matthew.
———, Robert J. Myles and Carlos Olivares, Matthew: An Introduction and Study Guide: The Basileia of the Heavens Is Near at Hand.