Janek is the founder of Powerhouse, a public affairs and advocacy agency that won Äripäev’s 2021 ranking of Estonia’s top PR firms. He graduated from the Tartu University Law Institute with a degree in law in 1999. From 1994 to 1997, he worked at Äripäev, from 1997 to 2000 he served as Vice President of SEB Bank, and from 2001 to 2002 he headed the Internet Gateway for Eurovision 2002 at Estonian Television (ETV). In 2008, he hosted the economic TV show “Miljon senti” during its spring and autumn seasons.
Since 2005, Janek has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Tallinn Children’s Hospital Support Foundation. On 5 February 2014, together with Hille and Toivo Tänavsuu, he founded the Hille Tänavsuu Cancer Treatment Foundation “The Gift of Life”. On 9 January 2018, he co-founded the Church Fund (EELK Support Foundation) together with Indrek Laul, Väino Kaldoja, and Urmas Viilma, and serves as its Managing Director.
From 1999 to January 2015, Janek was President of the Estonian Draughts Federation. He served as President of the European Draughts Confederation (EDC) from 2007 to 2017 and as President of the World Draughts Federation (FMJD) from 2017 to 2021. On 26 October 2025, he was re-elected President of the FMJD.
Janek remains an active draughts player: in 2022, 2023, and 2024, he won silver medals in the Estonian 64-square draughts team championships as part of Team Remii, and in 2024 he became Estonian champion in international draughts with the same team.
From September 2015 until the end of 2019, Janek served as Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Estonian Academy of Arts. From 2 May 2018 to 29 April 2019, he was a member of the Government of the Republic of Estonia, serving as Minister of Public Administration. Since 19 October 2025, he has been a member of the Haapsalu City Council.
Janek is a member of Tallinn Cathedral Congregation (Toomkogudus) and, since May 2021, also a member of its Council. Since September 2016, he has hosted the “Evenings of the Created Word” at Tallinn’s St. John’s Church.
He is the author of poetry collections “Ood rõõmule” (“Ode to Joy”, 2000) and “Hinge pealt ära” (“Off My Chest”, 2009), and of the poetry for the album “The Story of the Estonian Forest” (2011). Janek wrote the screenplays for the documentaries “Viimsi saared” (2011) and “The Fifth Power” (2015), and co-wrote “Land of Sounds” (2016) and “The Hour of Grace” (2018).
In 2012, his joint book with artist Jüri Arrak “Pind ja palk” (“The Speck and the Log”) was published, followed by “Diary 2005–2023. A Trumpet to Everyone, and Equally!” on 5 September 2023.
Janek has published opinion pieces in Eesti Kirik, Eesti Päevaleht, Delfi, Maaleht, Edasi.org, Postimees, Õhtuleht, and Äripäev. In 2021, he received the EELK Cross of Merit, Class III, and the Tallinna Jaani Congregation Cross of Gratitude.