Finn Vicars may only be 9.5 years old, but he is a passionate young man when it comes to the environment and building a better future for the next generation. He talks to Jayson Forrest.

The first thing that catches you when talking to Finn Vicars is just how articulate and considered his responses are to seemingly complex questions; the same questions most adults would stumble over. It’s even more astonishing when you consider Finn is a 9.5-year-old, fourth grade primary school student, who is studying accelerated science at an eighth grade level.

With an IQ of over 130, young Finn is considered a child prodigy, but don’t make the mistake of calling him that. It’s a term that doesn’t sit well with this young man.

“I don’t class myself as a child prodigy; I class myself as ‘me’. And while I accept that some people might call me a child prodigy, as far as I’m concerned, I’m just ‘me’,” Finn says.

But what the student from St Columba Anglican School does class himself as is a future change maker, focused on using science to improve the world for the next generation.

Finn will feature in the opening plenary session at this year’s FPA Professionals Congress, where he will talk about the importance of ‘trusting yourself’. It will also be an opportunity for this confident young student to fire a couple of shots across the bow of Future Fund chair and former Treasurer, Peter Costello, who will also be appearing in the same opening plenary.

It’s an opportunity that doesn’t phase Finn, because these days, when it comes to talking to politicians, he’s a bit of an old hand. In fact, young Finn is somewhat of a veteran when it comes to talking to Government and academia, having already met with former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, where he presented the PM with his own draft document – Living Off The Land Act.

According to Finn, this Act outlines the key principles of water harvesting, renewable energy, the use of sewerage tanks and growing your own food to help reduce your carbon footprint.

“Australia is too dependent on fossil fuels, like coal, when there are much cleaner and renewable alternatives available. It’s time we make the transition to renewable energy. So, I believe we need to impose tighter conditions on fossil fuel companies to help with this transition across to greener and sustainable energy,” Finn says.

“Although globally, Australia isn’t a very big carbon omissions producer, we can become a leader in reducing our collective carbon footprint – for the sake of the planet.”

Making Child Prodigies

It’s this passionate belief, along with his exceptional academic record, that saw this Lorne resident scouted by the ABC to appear on a television series called, Making Child Prodigies.

According to the ABC, there are less than 4,000 exceptionally skilled kids in Australia, and only about 100 who could be considered prodigies. And Finn is one of them. The television series, which aired earlier this year, provided an intimate look at the day-to-day lives of five young Australian prodigies and their families.

Not only did Finn use this program as an opportunity to discuss his environmental concerns and solutions with the Prime Minister, but the series also explored Finn’s fascination and knowledge of science. This included Finn’s design of a rocket, which was built into a workable prototype and successfully launched from his parent’s property.

But this budding scientist’s achievements don’t end there. He has also designed solar panels and an electric motor. It’s something he is particularly proud of: “I’m trying to raise the efficiency of solar panels by about 50 to 60 per cent.”

And while Finn enjoyed his time on the program, he jokes that he hasn’t let the notoriety get to his head!

“The filming usually took place on the weekend. But sometimes it was a bit of a drag, having the production crew come up every second weekend over the filming period. But actually, the whole experience was great.”

Future change

It’s hard not to be swayed by Finn’s passion for the environment and the role science can play in creating a more sustainable future. He ardently believes that the world can be improved through science, the economy and care for the environment.

But first, he believes it is absolutely essential that the next generation – his generation – recognises today’s problems, in order to help solve these issues.

“For my generation, it’s about fixing our predecessors’ mistakes and making sure we learn from those mistakes,” he says.

It’s a sound approach from someone with an old head on young shoulders.

And what about money? What does the future of money look like for the next generation?

“I believe there will still be money in the future. However, I also think crypto-currencies will increasingly become influential as a source of money, but I don’t believe they will ever replace Government controlled currencies. That said, in time, I believe most Government controlled currencies will become digitised.”

He also suggests that the future of investing in crypto-currencies could be the next “big thing”, but qualifies his statement by saying: “It’s still a very unstable type of currency, and not likely to be attractive to those investors who are risk averse.”

With such strong views on currency, it’s hardly surprising that Finn also has some robust opinions when it comes to the economy.

“I also believe that Governments should stringently limit how much money is printed in the future, to help reduce inflationary pressures on the economy, which in theory, will help with the unemployment rate,” he says. “We see this with the Phillips curve.”

Finn is referring to the single-equation econometric model, that describes a historical inverse relationship between rates of unemployment and corresponding rates of rises in wages that result within an economy.

“But if we place heavy taxes on anyone who keeps more money than is reasonably required, and we reinvest this money in services, such as public health and essential infrastructure, our economy could do very well as a result. It would also help in revaluing our currency, which could make us a major player in the global market.”

Simplistic, perhaps. Reasonable, undoubtedly. And Finn doesn’t discount challenging the former Treasurer, Peter Costello, with some of his views on economics during their Congress plenary session on Wednesday 21 November.

“Maybe my theory is something we shouldn’t do. Maybe we should leave the economy the way it is. But I still believe it’s a theory that shouldn’t be discounted,” he says.

Trusting yourself

In trying to correct some past societal wrongs through initiatives like his Living Off The Land Act and his work with solar panels, as a future change maker, Finn isn’t backward in offering some advice to the current crop of politicians and decision-makers.

“When it comes to saving this planet of ours, fixing up past mistakes is fairly simple,” he says. “Just do what you know is right. Stop ignoring the scientific facts. There’s no point in blatantly denying climate change, in order to make a profit or for political expediency, when it’s happening all around us. And what’s more, it’s kind of unfair to leave it to my generation to fix!”

It’s sage advice from someone so young.

Finn Vicars is a keynote speaker at the 2018 FPA Professionals Congress in Sydney (21-23 November). He will be speaking in the first keynote session on Wednesday 21 November.

For more information on the Congress program or to register your attendance, go to: fpacongress.com.au

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Leading line up

This year’s Congress will open with a keynote session featuring former Treasurer, Peter Costello, bestselling author, Stephen M. R. Covey, and future change maker, Finn Vicars. All three will explore the topic of ‘trust’ from different perspectives. Stephen will share insights from his global best seller, The Speed of Trust, while Peter will examine what the future of the economy might look like. The session will also introduce delegates to a young future leader, Finn Vicars, who will open your mind to the potential of the future and particularly what this means for the next generation.

Day two will feature a keynote presentation from US-based financial services expert and author, Mitch Anthony. Mitch will discuss the meaningful role planners play in their client’s life. He calls it ‘Life-Centred Planning’: a discovery process that focuses on who the client is, instead of their assets.

And the closing keynote session on Friday will feature Alex Sheen, who’s commitment to the betterment of humanity is inspiring millions of people. Through his social movement, because I said I would, Alex’s ‘promise cards’ are shared virally around the world, as a sign of the commitment by individuals to making a difference to others and themselves.

Joining Alex will be Michael Crossland, who will share his discovery that success in life has little to do with what we gain or take, but what we give back to it.

For more information on this year’s FPA Professionals Congress, go to fpacongress.com.au