Maki Kobayashi is the director general of the Latin America and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Prior to serving as director general, Kobayashi was the executive director of communications and engagement at the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the director of the European Policy Division in the European Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. She also was the Mexico director for the Central America and Caribbean Division in the Latin America and Caribbean Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan from 2013-2015. Kobayashi holds a Bachelor of Laws from Kyoto University.

Kobayashi was an event speaker at the Dialogue.