By In this series, features and series developer Heather Nicholls speaks to the unsung heroes of the events industry to reveal what really drives their passion and the remarkable contributions we too often overlook.
In this edition we meet Mara Nune, audio-visual warehouse operator, cameras at Europalco.
Nune has worked as a camera operator for 17 years, a role that has always connected her to events in some way – both covering them as part of news reporting and at times participating in them on a technical level.
When she joined Europalco, she was looking for an alternative to working on-site, which she had done for most of her career because she needed something more stable in terms of schedule. She explains: “That’s why I joined the warehouse as the person responsible for something I had known my whole life: cameras.”
Quick Q and A
What does a typical day look like for you on site?
We start with a daily meeting to align strategies across the audiovisual team for the day ahead — our “Kaizen” moment. Then each department prepares its own equipment and resolves any inconsistencies within its area of responsibility.
Once I finish my tasks, if colleagues need help, I make myself available. When everything is ready, we load the trucks with the technical equipment going to each event. After that, there is also the administrative side — registering outgoing and incoming material to keep our database accurate.
There are also days dedicated to inventory organisation, warehouse tidying and maintaining a good team spirit.
If your job didn’t exist, what do you think organisers or attendees would miss the most?
There would be no event without equipment — so…
What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced during an event?
In the warehouse, the main challenge is making sure that no event — large or small — is affected by missing or faulty equipment. We must guarantee that every client is treated properly and, above all, that our technicians working outside, wherever they are, can rely on us to provide solutions.
What’s something most people don’t realise about your job?
I think many people don’t realise that in our warehouse, because of the technical side involved, it’s not just about separating cases with equipment. It’s about constantly paying attention to what we are preparing so that it makes sense on-site and truly supports our colleagues. Good communication between warehouse and on-site teams is essential. We are their backup.
What’s one event you’ll never forget working on and why?
Before joining Europalco, I worked on the Qatar World Cup bid match between Brazil and Argentina in 2010. I was part of the host broadcast team through a previous company. There were many challenges, and it was very rewarding to overcome them successfully.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Every day I challenge myself in this new role, which I’ve been doing for the past two years. I’m proud of the teamwork at Europalco — how, even though we are many, we are part of a whole that creates something special at every event.
Explaining why her role is so vital to the success of an event, she said: “Because I believe we all play an important role in its development. Like a mechanism made up of small gears – each one essential for everything to function properly.”
She added: “My role helps to bring everything together behind the scenes because the people on-site need reliable backup – and that’s what we provide.”
Explaining why people in her position deserve more recognition in the industry, she explains: “From the first contact with the client to the dismantling of the event, everyone has a role to play – riggers, technicians, warehouse teams, cleaning staff. Everyone. That’s why recognition in each professional area is important.”
She added: “My job would become easier or more visible within the evnets industry by talking about it more, raising awareness. Letting go of the idea that working in a warehouse is somehow a lesser role.”
When asked who she thinks deserves more recognition in the events world she said: “The entire Europalco team.”
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