MDX academics recognised for creative and civic work in their community

Dr Francesca Murialdo and Helen Delany honoured at the Houses of Parliament by MPs Tulip Siddiq and Georgia Gould

Two Middlesex University academics and Kilburn residents – Dr Francesca Murialdo, Director of Programmes in Interior Architecture and Design, and Helen Delany, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Communication and Styling – have been honoured at the Houses of Parliament in recognition of their creative, civic and educational work in the community.

Presented with Certificates of Appreciation by local MPs Tulip Siddiq and Georgia Gould, the awards celebrated their creative, civic, and educational impact as part of the One Kilburn Alliance – a partnership working together to improve the quality of life of everyone in Kilburn.

Dr Murialdo was recognised for her leadership in initiatives such as the Kilburn Museum Lab, The Green Paper: Voices of Kilburn, and her continuing role within the One Kilburn Coordination Group. Her work explores how civic spaces can be co-designed with residents to strengthen community identity and participation. 

“It was an honour to be recognised at the Houses of Parliament by our local MPs, Tulip Siddiq and Georgia Gould, alongside other inspiring members of the One Kilburn network. The work I’m leading with One Kilburn focuses on rethinking how civic spaces can be co-designed with communities, not only in Kilburn but as a model for other neighbourhoods to explore how local alliances, residents and institutions can shape change together and define their own futures. This recognition celebrates a collective effort to imagine Kilburn’s future and highlights how universities can play an active civic role, building bridges between learning, research and local action.”

Dr Francesca Murialdo

Through initiatives such as the Kilburn Museum Lab — a “living museum” co-created with residents and MDX students — Dr Murialdo’s work demonstrates how participatory design and social innovation can connect learning, place, and community life.

Helen Delany was honoured for her collaborative art project The Kilburn Tapestry, created with artist Brenda Aherne, and her film Kilburn in Motion, winner of the One Kilburn Community Fund. Her projects celebrate Kilburn’s Irish creative heritage and engage local people through visual storytelling and textile arts. She explained what the recognition meant to her:

"I was humbled and honoured to receive acknowledgment from the House of Parliament for my work centred on Irish heritage in Kilburn, a place with a rich history of Irish diaspora. Since 2019, I’ve led research projects, workshops, open calls, commissions, and art events involving the local community, resulting in visual outcomes such as The Kilburn Tapestries and the film Kilburn in Motion. These projects celebrate the value of community, migration, immigration, and diversity, reaffirming that art and education are powerful ways to connect people across cultures and generations. I was proud to involve Middlesex University staff, students and alumni throughout, including Fashion Communication & Styling alumna Nancy Singh, who filmed Kilburn in Motion."

Together, Dr Murialdo and Helen Delany embody the spirit of One Kilburn — residents, creatives, and educators whose work bridges academia and everyday life to strengthen civic pride and social connection.

Their recognition in Parliament reflects Middlesex University’s deep commitment to civic engagement, creativity, and inclusion — values that continue to shape the University’s partnerships and positive impact within local communities.

Find out more about studying Interiors at Middlesex.