Elisabeth Wynhausen was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Australia. She is a respected journalist who has worked for The Bulletin, The National Times and The Age, both in Sydney and New York. At present she is a senior writer for The Australian. In these days of journalistic specialisation, where writers rarely leave the office, Wynhausen thinks of herself as part of an earlier tradition. "I try to tell stories about outsiders, the people many of my colleagues and those who wield power sometimes think about but never seem to meet. Whether it's telling stories about crime, industrial relations, immigration or politics, I start by asking questions about how the issue affects people at ground level. Of course, there's the bigger picture to consider, and explain, but like readers I'm drawn to human stories; there's a great satisfaction in giving voice to those who are vulnerable, seldom heard or misunderstood."

Her book Dirt Cheap: Life at the Wrong End of the Job market published in 2005, was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Her first book was a memoir, Manly Girls.